Springfield City Council Monday heard updates on the Renew Jordan Creek Project.
Phase one of the project broke ground in March. It's expected to be completed by December 31.
Director of Quality of Place Initiatives Tim Rosenbury described this part of the project as part of a series of improvements to water flow along Jordan Creek in recent years, and as part of a vision for revitalizing downtown.
“The Jordan Creek is project is part of the Jordan Valley Park long range vision. I'm not going to say master plan, but I will say it's a long-range vision that has been in place now for almost 30 years.”
Rosenbury said the city is hoping to have an opening ceremony in Spring 2027. He said the city is currently working with downtown stakeholders to consider use of the nearly completed space.
“We've been having some productive discussions with Missouri State University and their involvement in this project, on both an administrative level and an operational level. And it makes sense for us to do that, given that this is right across from Brick City in the downtown campus,” he added, “this week we'll be touring executive directors of both the Downtown Springfield Association and the Regional Arts Council through the space. They're very interested in looking at what kind of events might be programed there, and we're very interested in that to the city.”
Rosenbury said the next phase of the project will move east towards the former Meeks Lumber property near the corner of Jefferson and Phelps. Earlier this summer, the city accepted an EPA grant to begin addressing issues there.
Per Monday’s presentation, funding for Phase One of the project so far has included $14.4 million in local funds, $13.5 million in grants from sources like ARPA and the EPA, as well as $6 million in state revolving fund loans. With a total cost of $33.9 million.
Extensive work daylighting Jordan Creek has transformed the area along Mill and Water streets north of the square and south of Missouri State’s Brick City complex. There have been significant quality of place improvements to the area and improvements to infrastructure meant to better control flooding downtown.