Accomplishments

Neighborhoods Plan
  • City staff worked with Ozarks Technical Community College and Drury University to develop master plans for their respective campuses. City Council adopted both plans.
  • Neighborhood Assessments are being held as part of a citywide neighborhood planning process.
  • Enactment of the Boarded Buildings Ordinance put restrictions on boarded buildings to ensure compliance with health and safety codes.
  • The City has stepped up its program of removing severely deteriorated structures through spot clearance as part of Dangerous/Boarded Buildings strategy.
  • A process was established to acquire dangerous/boarded buildings for infill development or rehabilitation.
  • Shared parking is promoted to protect neighborhoods from encroachment, such as Springfield Public Schools and Drury University or OTC and area churches.
  • Buffers and green space are encouraged between institutions and neighborhoods.
  • New traffic-calming techniques such as the round-a-bout at OTC are encouraged.
  • The City tries to purchase the entire lot for street-widening projects instead of leaving narrow front yards (i.e. Grand Street and Walnut Lawn widening projects).
  • Sanitary sewer service is being expanded to unsewered areas with a goal of sewering the entire city over the next seven years.
  • Street and sidewalk maintenance are being provided through an annual resurfacing/replacement program.
  • The City is working with the Community Partnership of the Ozarks and AmeriCorps on neighborhood clean-ups in Center City.
  • Funding is available for the Police Area Representative Program and for Neighborhood Watch programs.
  • Funding is available for various after-school programs to deter children from getting involved in criminal activity.
  • The CrimeSeen feature on the City’s Web site provides neighborhoods with information of criminal activity.
  • A Community Development Corporation (Urban Neighborhoods Alliance – UNA) was established to assist with housing and neighborhood revitalization programs.
Center City Plan
  • The approval of the hotel-motel tax to fund Jordan Valley Park Phase 1 and the Zoo also included funding for the Discovery Center and Landers and Gillioz theaters.
  • The Springfield Exposition Center, multi-level Jordan Valley Car Park and Hammons Field baseball stadium are under construction.
  • The Urban Districts Alliance was reorganized.
  • The Springfield Finance and Development Corporation was formed.
  • The Downtown Community Improvement District was formed.
  • Parking improvements have been implemented.
  • Streetscape improvements (Downtown, Commercial Street, Walnut Street have been designed and constructed.
  • Three separate downtown National Register Historic Districts have been formed.
  • The Brownfields Program was implemented in the Center City area.
  • Approximately 50 loft apartments have been created in Center City.
  • A multipurpose arena is being designed.
Historic Preservation Plan
  • The Historic and Architectural Survey for the Grant Beach Neighborhood identified potential National Register properties for nomination.
  • The City’s Historic Resources Survey Plan identifies areas for future specific Historic and Architectural Surveys.
  • Historic City Hall Building underwent renovation.
  • The Christian Science Church building is being nominated to the National Register of Historic Places.
  • Five National Register Historic Districts were approved in the downtown area.
Community Physical Image Plan
  • The Missouri 13 Gateway project was designed.
  • An amended sign ordinance addresses the number and size of billboards.
Transportation Plan
  • The Metropolitan Planning Organization was expanded to include Strafford, Republic, northern Christian County, Nixa, and Ozark.
  • The MPO Organizational Structure and Staffing Study was implemented.
  • The first Executive Director for the MPO was hired.
  • South Dry Sac Greenway Concept Plan was initiated.
  • Voters approved a 1/8-cent sales tax for transportation to complete joint City/MoDOT projects such as the Sunshine/U.S. 65 Interchange.
  • The East U.S. 60 Corridor Study was completed.
  • The Bicycle section of the Transportation Plan was implemented through signage and the development of a bike route map.
  • A bicycle system using greenways and designated bike lanes is under development.
  • James River Freeway to I-44 was completed.
  • A number of bus turnouts have been created on major arterial streets.
  • The Access Management Standards were developed.
Parks, Open Space & Greenways Plan
  • Voters overwhelmingly approved a hotel-motel tax increase to implement Phase 1 of Jordan Valley Park - the Park, the Ice Park and Boonville Avenue Streetscape – along with funding for Dickerson Park Zoo and several Center City attractions.
  • Land was acquired for development of Jordan Valley Park- Phase One.
  • Jordan Valley Ice Park opened on Sept. 22, 2001.
  • Land was acquired to complete the Galloway Creek Greenway from Sequiota Park to Pershing School.
  • The School-Park concept was implemented with McBride, McGregor, and Truman Schools.
  • Land was acquired along South Creek, National to Campbell, adjacent to South Creek/Wilsons Creek Greenway.
  • Land was acquired to develop Close Park adjacent to Nathanael Greene Park.
  • The South Creek/Wilsons Creek Greenway segment from Nathanael Greene Park to Golden Avenue was completed.
  • Railroad right-of-way was acquired to connect the Frisco Highline Trail from Willard to Springfield.
  • A segment of Ward Branch Greenway was completed.
  • A segment of Jordan Creek Greenway (Hammons Parkway to Downtown) was completed.
  • The Five-Year Strategic Action Plan was prepared to implement the Parks, Open Space, and Greenways Plan.
  • City and County voters passed a 1/4-cent sales tax for Implementation of Five-Year Action Steps for Parks, Open Space, & Greenways.
  • Approximately 150 acres were acquired at the west Springfield Wilson-Rutledge property for a metropolitan park.
  • Construction and rehabilitation of the Doling Community Center are underway.
  • The Chesterfield Family Center expansion is underway with construction of an aquatic center.
Growth Management & Land Use Plan
  • The City has continued and expanded its voluntary annexation policy and two of three city-initiated annexation referendums have been approved..
  • The Urban Service Area Policy was revised and amended in conjunction with Greene County.
  • Several recommendations of the Water Resources Task Force have been implemented.
  • The Land Use Plan guides development issues, zoning cases, and subdivision plats.
  • Urban Service Areas/Future Growth Areas are being coordinated with the surrounding communities of Battlefield, Republic, Willard, Strafford, Nixa, and Ozark.
  • Amended subdivision regulations require sidewalks on at least one side of every street.
Community Facilities Plan
  • The shared-use principle has been applied in a number of ways, such as the School-Park program and combined Police and Fire facilities.
  • A new Library Center has been built, another is under construction, and branch libraries have been renovated.
  • Springfield Public School facilities – such as Central High School, Jarrett Middle School, and Kennedy Stadium – have been renovated.
  • Four new fire stations have been built – three of which were relocated to address future growth and one new site was added.
  • The City’s first full-service South Springfield Police Station was built.
  • A new jail was built using the Law Enforcement Sales Tax.
  • The City and County have combined Emergency Management efforts.
  • The Level Property Tax Project was implemented, including preservation and restoration of municipal facilities.
  • The 800-megahurtz trunked radio system putting emergency responders on one network was dedicated in July 2002.
  • A significant number of stormwater projects have been completed.
Economic Development Plan
  • The Partnership Industrial Center West site was selected and developed.
  • The Amended Enterprise Zone added 240 acres to the existing zone.
  • Property annexed near Evans Road and U.S. 65 ensures that areas for major retail development are within city limits.
  • City staff is working with SMS and OTC to facilitate Center City growth and linkages.
  • City staff is working with St. John’s and Cox hospitals to facilitate expansion.
  • National Fish and Wildlife Living Museum and Aquarium opened.
  • The City is participating the Chamber of Commerce’s Partnership for Prosperity program.
  • The City is a partner in the Chamber’s regional outreach efforts through the Ozarks Regional Economic Partnership.