FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The City of Springfield plans to construct a variety of safety and operational modifications to Jubilee Park, located at 298 S. Jefferson Avenue in Downtown Springfield. Public comment on the proposed improvements will be accepted via an online comment form available through Oct. 30.
The goal of the proposed modifications is to provide a convenient green space for residents and visitors in an area of downtown Springfield that is otherwise developed. The project will include the removal of stone walls, planters and patio spaces on the north and south portions of the park. An asphalt walkway will be removed and a new walkway constructed to connect sidewalk along the western perimeter to an existing music installation. Spaces where pavement is removed will be regraded to provide flatter, more walkable and mowable green space. Several trees in poor condition will be removed and replaced with new trees and landscaping in various locations.
The City began looking at potential modifications to the park following a request from the Downtown Community Improvement District to assess safety, maintenance and overall usability of the space.
A Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) study of the space was conducted over the summer by the Springfield Police Department. The City also conducted research on the history of the current contents of Jubilee Park and found no restrictions to its modification.
“We intend to do much-needed maintenance and editing, so to speak, of the space,” explains Director of Quality of Place Initiatives Tim Rosenbury. “Through the various iterations of transportation and streetscaping improvements over the past 50 years, very little has been done to the park itself. With new sidewalk and infrastructure recently completed in the area, it’s time to make a few changes so the park can better serve downtown as an open green space.”
The planned modifications would be conducted in phases, with the pavement and stonework removals occurring in phase one, and walkway improvements and landscaping coming in a second phase at a later date.
The project would be constructed by Public Works internal streets and grounds crews at a cost of less than $5,000.
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For more information, contact Communication Coordinator Kristen Milam at 573-819-3713 or [email protected].