City of Springfield

Springfield City Council voted unanimously Monday night to amend city ordinance to remove requirements to wear face masks outdoors except for gatherings of more than 500 where people are less than six feet from one another. 

The decision comes after the CDC last week announced new guidelines that said it’s safe to unmask outdoors if you’re vaccinated.  The agency also declared it was safe for unvaccinated people to participate in outdoor, unmasked activities with members of one’s household or other fully vaccinated people. 

Starting Wednesday (4/7), Brookside Drive, between Kings and Green Avenues in Springfield, will close for about seven months.  The city is working on the Fassnight Creek Stormwater Improvement Project at that location, and the closure will allow for roadway and sanitary sewer construction.

A major cleanup effort will get underway soon in Springfield.  Clean Green Springfield will be held during April and May.  The event will include cleanup and beautification opportunities, including neighborhood cleanups, roadside trash pickups, plantings, stream cleanups and more.

In May, the city will offer chances for residents to dispose of things like tires, mattresses, appliances and electronics at no charge.

Springfield police are conducting a Crosswalk Yield Check at a crosswalk in the northern part of the city this week.

Springfield city officials said in a news release the officers will be monitoring a crosswalk for four hours each day at Atlantic and Campbell near Reed Middle School.

Sequiota Park is a popular place for playing, relaxing, hiking and picnicking.  The Galloway Creek Greenway, which was designated in 2003 as a National Recreation Trail by the National Park Service and American Trails, runs through it.  But the park's boundaries encompass only 12.7 acres.  That could soon change.

The City of Springfield wants to know what you would like to see included in the Renew Jordan Creek master plan.  An online public visioning survey is available through February 7 at renewjordancreek.com.

Jordan Creek, which flows through downtown Springfield, was channeled through a series of underground culverts beginning in the 1930s, according to city officials. 

Springfield Environmental Services is asking area residents to help them meet a recycling challenge.  The department wants to see 100 tons of paper recycled at the city’s drop off sites between November 15 and December 17.  And, so far, 51.5 tons of paper has been recycled.

More than 85 tons is collected per month, on average, at the city’s recycling centers.

Wrapping paper can be recycled as long as it doesn’t contain foil or glitter.  You can also recycle things like tissue paper, paper towel and toilet paper tubes and food boxes.

The City of Springfield wants to know what its residents think about the future of Commercial Street and the Forward SGF Comprehensive Plan.

Update:   Last night’s Listening Session that was to be hosted by the City of Springfield was canceled due to low response.  There were only two people signed up to speak.

Two more sessions are planned for November 9th and 23rd from 6 to 8 p.m. at Drury’s Wilhoit Theatre.  Those sessions will be livestreamed on Facebook and on the City of Springfield’s website.

According to city officials, the listening sessions are being held so citizens have a chance to address City Council on the topics of crime, race relations and race relations and policing.

The Mayor’s Tree Lighting Ceremony, which kicks off Springfield’s Festival of Lights every year will still be held during the pandemic, but it will look a lot different.

At a press conference Wednesday, city spokeswoman, Cora Scott, said the city will team up with the newly formed Ozarks Performing Arts League this year to put on the event November 21 at 7 p.m.  Instead of inviting the public downtown to see the lighting ceremony, the city will broadcast the event on KY-3.

Springfield’s face covering requirement is now in place through January 9th.  Springfield City Council voted to extend the mandate for anyone over age 11 at its meeting Monday night.  There are some exemptions to the rule.  City Council initially approved a mask ordinance in July.

The City of Springfield is planning to redo a stretch of the Galloway Creek Greenway, and you have until Monday, September 14, to comment on the plans.

The section that will be reconstructed is along Lone Pine, between Barton St. and Republic Rd.

Joe Hamp is the project manager for the city.

"The trail in that area is in the top three of the highest used trail here in the city," he said.  "The asphalt on that trail was placed about 15 years ago, so it's in need of some repairs."