RECREATION, SPORTS & LEISURE - Partnerships create enrichment and economic development opportunities for the Springfield area.
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2021 UPDATE
A series of white papers on the report’s
11 primary topics will be published on
a rolling basis ahead of the 2021 edition.
For news, podcasts and more information,
visit springfieldcommunityfocus.org.
RECREATION,
SPORTS & LEISURE
Partnerships create enrichment and
economic development opportunities
for the Springfield area.
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 2021
PAGE 2 OF 6
2021 UPDATE: RECREATION, SPORTS & LEISURE
F FOR PODCASTS, NEWS AND MORE, GO TO SPRINGFIELDCOMMUNITYFOCUS.ORG
BLUE RIBBONS Community collaboration · Trails and connections · Sports tourism
RED FLAGS Green space preservation · Obesity · Parks, trails and sports infrastructure funding
Parks offer welcome respite,
but funding remains unstable
W
hen the COVID-19 pandemic hit
and closed down businesses and BLUE RIBBONS
institutions, parks and trails A consistent Blue Ribbon from previ-
became essential to maintaining a sense ous reports has been community collab-
of normalcy. The city’s already-busy 104 oration to keep Springfield’s parks and
parks locations and 75-plus miles of built recreation spaces up to date. The Park
trails bustled with activity during the Board currently has an active partnership
Springfield’s two-month shutdown and with more than 250 local organizations,
slow reopening in 2020. Passive park and and more than 900 individual volunteers photo courtesy of springfield-greene county park board
trail usage remains strong as residents collaborate to provide programs, events, Private donations have become an important source of funding
have developed new habits that include sports leagues and facilities. Without of parks programs, like the $27,680 donation from Bass Pro
time outdoors. these partners, many community sports Shops for 40 new kayaks at Lake Springfield Park in April 2021.
The Springfield-Greene County Park and recreation opportunities would not The donation allowed the Springfield-Greene County Park Board
Board, in collaboration with more than be possible. to replace worn boats after a busy 2020 rental season.
300 community partner groups, remains Springfield Public Schools is a primary
the center of recreation, sports and lei- partner, providing facilities for SPARC
sure in our community. By partnering before- and after-school programs,
with Ozark Greenways, Friends of the
Garden, Friends of the Zoo, Spring-
field Sister Cities Association and other COVID-19 IMPACT
T
groups, the area’s parks offer a diverse
array of outdoor experiences, including hroughout a frightening and frustrat- cans along trails and picnic areas.
sports, gardening and cultural enrich- ing pandemic, Springfield residents have Parks continued to partner with the Health
ment. In partnership with schools, local viewed parks, trails and outdoor recreation Department to safely reopen family centers and
sports teams, health care and private opportunities in a new light. A visit to the park sports programs by encouraging face coverings,
investors, residents have ample access to or a walk on a trail provided a priceless outlet for screening for symptoms, checking temperatures
sports leagues, fitness programs and out- residents of all ages who were told to stay home and limiting capacity to prevent spread of COVID-
door adventures. and avoid contact with others for weeks. 19. After the city’s emergency orders were lifted, a
Parks and recreation are more than While many parks systems across the country new normal remained in place, including increased
just playgrounds; they are economic driv- closed entirely, the Park Board was dedicated to personal space in popular workout classes and fre-
ers. Sports tournaments and parks attrac- keeping outdoor spaces open, working closely quent cleaning of common surfaces.
tions such as Dickerson Park Zoo and with the Springfield-Greene County Health While passive parks use and outdoor experi-
Springfield Botanical Gardens draw thou- Department to ensure visitor safety and eventu- ences remained strong throughout the pandemic,
sands of overnight visitors to Springfield. ally restore services and amenities. overall parks revenue took a $1.2 million hit, as
In an employee-driven job market, parks Almost overnight, parks and trails became memberships, program registrations and events
and outdoor experiences help attract new busy with families and individuals seeking fresh were canceled or scaled back. Reimbursements
talent to the area and enhance quality of air, exercise and a change of scenery. Lake Spring- from the City of Springfield, and CARES Act fund-
life for employees who build lives here. field Park processed more than 4,000 boat rentals ing through Greene County, helped stabilize the
High-quality parks and trails add value in 2020, despite opening a month late due to city Parks budget.
to real estate, enhancing nearby property emergency orders. This was a 25% increase over As COVID vaccination became available in our
values by 10–15% and helping maintain a 2019. Golf activity also surged during 2020, gen- area, the Park Board was able to assist the Health
sense of community. erating nearly $400,000 more in revenue than the Department by hosting several well-attended
But reinvestment in the parks system previous year. In other parks, staff noted full park- vaccination clinics at Rutledge-Wilson Farm Park,
has become a challenge, as funding for ing lots and an unexpected measure of activity: a Jordan Valley Ice Park, family centers and Dicker-
new projects has become more reliant on marked increase in garbage collected from trash son Park Zoo.
grants and private donations.PAGE 3 OF 6
2021 UPDATE: RECREATION, SPORTS & LEISURE
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sports leagues, clubs and summer camp impact in parks in recent years. During
for more than two decades. Starting the past two years, private donors and SUCCESS STORY
in fall 2021, Springfield Public Schools’ foundations have funded development
new grant-funded SHINE program pro- of a new playground at Lafayette Park,
vided before- and after-school care to all the Sensory Garden Fountain and the
schools, allowing SPARC, Boys & Girls new Rose Garden at Springfield Botani-
Clubs of Springfield, Springfield Dream cal Gardens (via Friends of the Garden),
Center and YMCA to expand partner- and major renovations at Cooper Tennis
ships within schools. The school district Complex. Bass Pro Shops donated 40 new
also shares numerous playgrounds with kayaks to Lake Springfield Park in April,
the park system and uses Park Board replacing several boats that were worn
sports facilities including baseball, ten- out after a record-breaking 2020 boat
nis, soccer and golf. In summer, the dis- rental season.
trict provides programming with Summer The National Park Service’s Wilson’s
Explore and outdoor experiences on park Creek National Battlefield, which sees
properties. 200,000 visitors annually, recently com-
City Utilities of Springfield is working pleted a $3.5 million renovation of its vis-
with area nonprofits to add recreational itor center, funded in part by $500,000
opportunities at Fellows Lake. Ozark in private donations raised locally by the
Greenways and TrailSpring are partner- Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Foun-
ing to redevelop 33 miles of multiuse dation, and matched by $500,000 in fed-
trails, and the Watershed Committee of eral funds. The expansion enhances the
the Ozarks is now managing marina and visitor experience by adding 1,800 square
boat-rental operations. When complete, feet of exhibit space, with room for inter-
Fellows Lake will be a signature recre- active displays and historic artifacts.
ation destination for biking, paddling and Ozark Greenways has partnered with
T
other outdoor activities. the Park Board, the City of Springfield, photo courtesy of springfield-greene county park board
The Springfield Art Museum, neigh- City Utilities, the Ozarks Transportation he Fulbright Spring Greenway is a destination trail
boring Phelps Grove Park since 1958, Organization, private donors and oth- just north of Springfield city limits, now an uninter-
developed its 30-year Master Plan, calling ers to build and expand trails and con- rupted seven miles long, with the latest connecting
for greater connectivity between the two nections that consistently rank among section opening in 2020.
city-owned properties. Phase 1 of the plan the community’s favorite assets. Trail Starting at Ritter Springs Park, this rural greenway
is underway, improving museum grounds development emerged as a top commu- meanders along the South Dry Sac River to David C. Mur-
by widening and naturalizing Fassnight nity priority in the city’s Forward SGF ray Park, Lost Hill Park and Truman Elementary School-
Creek, reconfiguring museum parking, visioning project. The area’s more than 75 Park. Trail users cross the river several times, including
improving exterior lighting, and creating miles of developed greenway have consis- on a scenic bridge just east of the David C. Murray Park
trail connections to both sides of Phelps tently stayed busy with walkers, runners, trailhead.
Grove Park. The creek-widening project cyclists and nature enthusiasts, especially This trail leads through wooded hillsides, pastureland
also calls for extending the Fassnight during the pandemic. and river bottom near several caves, passing through
Creek Greenway from the museum prop- A significant trail-related project on patches of native prairie, wetland and woods. Today, the
erty through Phelps Grove Park to the the horizon is the City of Springfield’s greenway corridor passes through habitat for a range of
existing trailhead at Jefferson Avenue. Grant Avenue Parkway project, with wildlife including snakes, turtles, deer, woodchucks, tur-
Phase 1 is funded by a combination of plans for off-street pedestrian and bicy- keys, hawks, bald eagles and many species of songbirds.
state and federal grants and the City of cle pathways and other traffic upgrades A portion of the trail passes through the former Ful-
Springfield’s ¼-cent capital improvement along a two-mile stretch of Grant Avenue, bright Landfill, operated by the City of Springfield from
sales tax. connecting downtown with Sunshine 1962–1969. This area was designated a Superfund site in
Various “friends” groups provide Street and Wonders of Wildlife National 1983, but significant cleanup, including removal of hazard-
invaluable financial, advocacy and vol- Museum and Aquarium, reinvigorating ous materials, soil replacement, erosion control and ongo-
unteer support to the Park Board, in par- neighborhoods and economic opportu- ing groundwater monitoring, has helped restore the area
ticular, Friends of the Zoo, which funds a nities along the way. The project will fill for recreational use.
significant portion of Dickerson Park Zoo a vital gap in the Ozark Greenways trail Throughout the corridor, visitors encounter wayfinding
operations, and Friends of the Garden, network, as well as establish new connec- kiosks that highlight unique natural, cultural and historical
which builds and advocates for develop- tions within parks, neighborhoods and aspects of the area, and two delightful public art installa-
ment at Springfield Botanical Gardens. schools. The city has secured $21 million tions, including a colorful mural west of Lost Hill Park.
Donors have been making a huge in federal funding for the project, whichPAGE 4 OF 6
2021 UPDATE: RECREATION, SPORTS & LEISURE
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requires a $5 million local match. The
City recently selected a team of contrac- LEGISLATIVE IMPACT
S
tors, landscape architects, engineers and
consultants led by Radmacher Brothers everal of our community’s favorites parks Conservation’s Joe Crighton Access; and Spring-
Excavating Co., in partnership with proj- and recreation spots owe their creation to field Public Schools’ Mr. Nick’s Playground.
ect designers Cook, Flatt & Strobel (CFS) a federal law passed early in Lyndon John- Perhaps more important than the initial fund-
Engineering and Hoerr Schaudt Land- son’s presidency. ing, the fund also provides lasting protection for
scape Architects, to design and construct In 1964, Congress approved and Johnson parks and recreation facilities. Property devel-
the Grant Avenue Parkway improvements. signed landmark legislation designed to help meet oped using LWCF assistance is required to be
Construction is expected to begin in 2022 the nation’s growing need to preserve, develop operated and maintained in perpetuity for public
with completion anticipated in 2024. and ensure public access to outdoor recreation outdoor recreation use. This provision prevents
Ozark Greenways has continued to facilities. The Land and Water Conservation Fund sale or significant change of use of park and rec-
add and connect segments on the Ful- Act of 1965 is funded through federal energy rev- reation areas, ensuring continuity of operation as
bright Spring Greenway. As of July 2020, enues, mainly offshore gas and oil leases. Nearly the property was originally developed.
the trail now spans 7 uninterrupted miles $19 billion has been appropriated over the last 55 “It’s hard to overstate the impact that Land
north of Springfield, connecting Truman years through the LWCF, serving as a key building and Water Conservation Fund grants have had on
Elementary School to Lost Hill Park, block for public areas ranging from national parks virtually every local park system throughout the
David C. Murray Trailhead and Ritter to local playgrounds and ballfields. country — it truly is an amazing legacy” said Bob
Springs Park. Since 1965, 60% of LWCF appropriations Belote, director of parks for the Springfield-Greene
Also, a portion of the asphalt trail have funded federal land acquisition through the County Park Board. “Such is the case with our park
on the busy Galloway Creek Greenway National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the system and the wide variety of park, trail and nat-
is being rebuilt in concrete, south of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of ural areas we’ve been able to develop through the
Sequiota Park, and near Covington Street, Land Management, totaling $11.4 billion. years, with LWCF helping lead the way.”
a new trail spur is underway, connecting But more Americans have been directly Annual appropriations for the LWCF have var-
to the Brentwood neighborhood by way impacted by the much smaller LWCF State Grants ied over the years, and the legislation itself was set
of new sidewalks and a signaled cross- program, which has provided $4.8 billion for to expire in 1989, 2015 and 2018, with Congress
walk across Lone Pine Avenue. Both proj- acquisition and development of parks and outdoor approving temporary renewals along the way.
ects are funded through state and federal recreation areas at the state and local level. In Mis- In 2020, Congress passed and the president
grants combined with the city’s 1/8-cent souri, the State Grants program is administered signed the Great American Outdoors Act, which
Transportation Sales Tax. through Missouri State Parks. Any local govern- established the new National Parks and Public
Further south, plans for the Chad- ment, city, county or school is eligible to apply for Land Legacy Restoration Fund, designed to support
wick Flyer Trail will convert a portion of up to $500,000 per project, with a minimum 50% deferred maintenance on federal lands up to $1.9
the former Frisco railway into greenway, match. Eligible projects typically include parks, billion a year — more than four times the average
between Lake Springfield and the City of trails, outdoor sports infrastructure, picnic and annual LWCF appropriation. Again, the funding
Ozark’s Community Center — the first camping areas, and access for boating and fishing. comes from federal energy development revenues.
greenway to connect to Christian County. In Springfield and Greene County, LWCF pro- The Great American Outdoors Act also per-
About one-tenth of the proposed 7.5-mile vided key funding for development of several rec- manently funds the LWCF at an annual $900
trail is already in place, along Olde World reation areas, including the Springfield-Greene million — more than double the average annual
Estates. With a $50,000 anonymous County Park Board’s Nathanael Greene/Close amount. This legislation ensures, among other
gift, the Community Foundation of the Memorial Park, Ritter Springs Park, Meador Park, initiatives, that grants remain available to state
Ozarks established a fund for the Chad- Doling Park and Cooper Park Sports Complex; and local governments for future development of
wick Flyer Trail development, estimated Ozark Greenway’s South Creek and Wilson’s outdoor recreation facilities, providing exciting
to cost $8 million. Creek Greenways; the Missouri Department of opportunities for generations to come.
The Fellows Lake trail project is one
of several bike trail developments and
facility upgrades proposed by TrailSpring anonymous donation of $4 million that Ribbon for Springfield, which serves as
under the Dirt66 moniker. The 66-mile will provide long-term stability to four a hub for sports competitions. Despite
plan calls for connecting and further Springfield-based environmental groups: economic downturns from recessions
developing several existing parks, gre- Ozark Greenways, TrailSpring, Water- and the pandemic, athletes, coaches and
enways and recreation areas north of shed Committee of the Ozarks and the extended families have continued to
Springfield. TrailSpring also is the devel- James River Basin Partnership. The dona- travel to Springfield for tournaments and
oper of the 400-acre Two Rivers Bike tion established an endowment for each championships, bringing revenue to the
Park, which opened in 2013 south of Nixa. organization, providing annual distribu- city’s hotels, restaurants, retail outlets
In April 2021, the Community Foun- tions to fund operations and projects. and tourist attractions.
dation of the Ozarks announced an Sports tourism remains a Blue By actively partnering with the ParkPAGE 5 OF 6
2021 UPDATE: RECREATION, SPORTS & LEISURE
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Board and other facilities, the Spring- project, and Sporting Springfield Soccer RED FLAGS
field Sports Commission, the Springfield Club, a development academy affiliate of The Red Flags for recreation, sports
Convention & Visitors Bureau, national Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas and leisure from the 2019 Community
sports governing bodies and area univer- City, plans to call the development home. Focus Report remain. Preserving green
sities, the City of Springfield attracts and The City of Springfield has agreed with space for future parks, trails and natural
retains state and national events such as co-developers Philcrest Properties and areas has been noted as a Red Flag since
the National Christian Homeschool Bas- L5 Sports Management & Consulting to 2011, with little progress made. Spring-
ketball Championships, now booked for reimburse up to $2.1 million in infrastruc- field still ranks far behind comparable cit-
Springfield through 2025, and bringing ture development, if the developers meet ies in the number of parks and total acres
8,000–10,000 visitors to Springfield each certain obligations. managed. Numerous reports, including
March. The BMX Gold Cup Finals return The Springfield City Council also Field Guide 2030 (both the Recreation
to Springfield in 2021, and several Mis- committed $5 million to help fund & Leisure and Growth Management &
souri State High School Activities Asso- planned upgrades at Lake Country Soc- Land Use sections), as well as the Parks
ciation state championships take place cer complex in the Park Board’s Cooper and Recreation Master Plan 2021, have
in the city, including tennis, golf, soft- Park — one of the seven facility enhance- recommended expansion of public park
ball and basketball, which is booked for ments recommended by the Springfield land. New park acquisition and devel-
Missouri State University’s JQH Arena Sports Commission’s 2019 “Huddle Up” opment was dramatic from 2001 to 2012,
through 2022. study. The funding is a significant boost when dedicated Parks sales taxes pro-
Professional sports bring visitors to to Lake Country’s $10 million capital vided funding for capital improvements.
the area as well. The average pre-pan- campaign, which calls for renovation of After that funding stream expired, parks
demic annual attendance of the Spring- eight outdoor soccer fields, new locker development slowed significantly. With-
field Cardinals, the AA affiliate of Major rooms and restrooms, concessions and out dedicated funding for expansion, the
League Baseball’s St. Louis Cardinals, was concourse. The city funding may allow all Park Board has limited options for partic-
320,000–350,000. After the cancellation these improvements to be done at once, ipating in purchase agreements or cost-
of the entire 2020 season, the Cardinals rather than the original five phases. shares for new parks.
returned to a regular schedule in 2021, In August, Springfield City Coun- Obesity has been a Red Flag noted
with full stadium capacity restored at cil agreed to purchase the Fieldhouse in numerous previous reports, with
Hammons Field June 1. Sportscenter, a 46,000-square-foot indoor statewide adult obesity rates growing
The pandemic forced the Springfield facility featuring four basketball courts from 23.9% in 2004 to a 34.8% in 2019.
Lasers Professional Tennis Team to play that can be converted to eight volleyball Greene County rates typically have been
the 2020 and 2021 seasons at an out-of- courts. After nine years of successful higher than the rest of the state. Child-
state location with the rest of the World private operation, the previous owners hood and adolescent obesity rates are
Team Tennis league. The Lasers, who approached the Park Board about buying also rising. Parks and recreation devel-
won the league championship in 2018 and the facility in early 2021, with the intent opment, including family centers, sports,
2019, look forward to returning home to of continuing operation as a sports facility. senior-citizen classes and youth pro-
Springfield’s Cooper Tennis Complex in Other potential buyers would likely have grams, is dedicated to getting residents
2022, where the team has hosted inter- converted the facility for non-sports use. active and encouraging new habits that
nationally ranked tennis stars every July The Park Board plans to maintain league counter obesity and related health con-
since 1996. play for more than 400 basketball and cerns.
Two new projects will help bolster volleyball teams at the Fieldhouse, build Since the 2009 Community Focus
the community’s ability to attract and upon existing tournaments and events, Report, stable public funding for
host large soccer tournaments. Ground and expand programming to include pick- parks, trails and sports infrastructure
was broken in April on the Betty & leball and other sports. The $7.5 million remains the No. 1 concern. This trend is
Bobby Allison Sports Town, a privately purchase is will be repaid over 15 years, by evident across the parks and recreation
run destination sports complex in north- both the City and the Park Board. community, as Lake Country Soccer,
west Springfield, next to Deer Lake Additional existing sports facilities Friends of the Garden, Friends of the Zoo,
Golf Course. According to the Spring- need reinvestment and expansion to Ozark Greenways, the Wilson’s Creek
field Business Journal, the $22 million compete for tournament bids. The MSH- National Battlefield Foundation and the
development includes 12 soccer fields, SAA State baseball championships are Park Board rely on grants, private donors
including a turf championship field with scheduled to take place in Ozark’s US and special funding for capital improve-
seating for 1,500, and a 90,000-square- Baseball Park from 2021 to 2025. This ment projects.
foot indoor complex, containing soccer same tournament was held at Spring- The Park Board’s budget comes from
fields and basketball and volleyball courts. field’s Meador Park from 2007 to 2012 sales tax revenue dedicated to parks
Local philanthropist Bobby Allison is as well as in numerous previous years, and user fees, and apart from grants and
contributing more than $3 million to the before it relocated to newer facilities. special projects, the Park Board receivesPAGE 6 OF 6
2021 UPDATE: RECREATION, SPORTS & LEISURE
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no revenue from the City of Springfield, to ballfield maintenance, concessions,
Greene County or the State of Missouri. sports officials and more — about 400
Countywide capital improvement sales positions in all. By law, minimum wage
taxes in 2001 and 2006 provided signifi- increased from $7.85 an hour in 2018 to
cant funding for parks, but the 2006 tax a current $10.30 an hour and will reach
was not renewed after sunsetting in 2012. $12 an hour by 2024. Those changes mean
There is no timeline for placing a parks the Park Board would spend an additional
issue on the ballot in Greene County or $1.3 million every year by 2024 to cover
Springfield in the near future. the same 400 seasonal positions. With no
A list of unfunded parks projects, new funding source available, parks have
ranging from green space acquisition reduced hiring and shortened seasons
and facility upgrades to deferred mainte- and hours to cover costs.
nance and equipment replacement, now Compounding the rising cost of work-
totals about $50 million, up from $47 mil- ers, Springfield, like much of the country,
lion in 2019. is experiencing an acute labor shortage,
The lack of public funding reached a and the Park Board has struggled to fill
crisis point as the Park Board finalized open positions and compete with employ-
its fy2020–21 budget, which required ers offering higher starting wages.
making $1.24 million in cuts ranging from Until a new funding source is secured,
closing swimming pools to reducing facil- the majority of recommendations in the
ity hours and eliminating some events Parks and Recreation Master Plan 2021,
and programs. These cuts were made in Field Guide 2030 and the Forward SGF
March 2020, just days before COVID-re- 2040 all remain on hold. The Park Board
lated emergency orders led to facility clo- has limited options to address sports
sures and program cancellations. Despite infrastructure upgrades, joint environ-
popularity of outdoor spaces and trails mental projects, neighborhood park res-
during the pandemic, the Park Board toration and long-term land acquisition.
lost more than $1.2 million in revenue, as Despite the essential role parks has
facilities and programs remained closed played for the community during the pan-
or operated with limited capacity. demic, as well as private reinvestment,
The City of Springfield helped provide grants and special projects, Springfield’s
some funding stability through the pan- high-quality park amenities face gradual
demic, and the Park Board received $1.17 decline without stable funding.
million in CARES Act reimbursement
through Greene County. But many cuts The Recreation, Sports & Leisure 2021
made the previous year were not restored Update was produced by Jenny Fillmer
in the 2021–22 budget. Edwards of Springfield-Greene County
Missouri minimum-wage increases, Park Board with input from: Bob Belote,
approved by voters in November 2018, Jim Fisher, Lance Kettering, Mary Kromrey,
profoundly affected the Park Board’s labor John Mackey, Anne-Mary McGrath, Kristen
costs. The Park Board is one of Spring- Milam, Karen Mellinger, Jerry Mitchell, Nick
field’s largest employers for youth and Nelson, Kim Reser, Francis Skalicky and
seasonal workers, ranging from lifeguards Diana Tyndall.You can also read
