City of Springfield

This week on Making Democracy Work, host Lynn Howerton speaks with Amy Russell, public information officer with Springfield--Greene County.

Today’s discussion explores the ongoing task of improving and building upon Greene County’s hazard mitigation plan.

If you stand along South Creek just east of Campbell and look west, it’s hard to imagine that just a short time ago, the stream was just a concrete channel with water flowing down the middle.  Now, in the warmer seasons, it’s a lush landscape with native plants, birds, butterflies and other wildlife.

A project to restore part of Fassnight Creek near the Springfield Art Museum will be similar to the project done here at South Creek along Sunset between Campbell Avenue and Kansas Expressway.  This restoration project was finished just over three years ago, in late October, 2016.

Fassnight Creek meanders along the south side of Phelps Grove Park along Brookside Dr.  It comes from underground at Linwood Circle near the Springfield Art Museum and runs west.

That section of the creek is concrete, but plans are in place to make the part from about Kings Ave. on the west to just east of the museum more natural.

What do you want Springfield to look like in 20 years?   Forward SGF, the official name for the next comprehensive city plan for Springfield, is underway.

This long-range, community-wide plan will help City Council chart out improvements for Springfield for the next two decades. So, leaders are seeking community feedback.

Randall Whitman, the principal planner for the city’s planning and development department, said that this plan acts as a roadmap for the city.