Center City Scenes: Public process aids square revisions

After the last horn played and the final piece of candy was snatched from the sidewalk, Springfield marched on. Shoppers flocked to malls and big-box stores. Residents moved to the cul-de-sac of their dreams. Multiscreen movie theaters migrated south of Battlefield Road.

New generations of Springfieldians, however, are rediscovering their civic roots. A downtown library will open in April in the former Kresge department store. Missouri State University in the fall will bring hundreds of students and faculty to the former Bank of America building and Brick City, a turn-of-the-century icehouse. The renovation of the Heer’s building is the crown jewel of urban housing and an extension of the 500 new residents in center city during the past five years. College Station is the largest in-fill project to date, and its 14 movie screens are estimated to draw 500,000 customers in the first year.

This surge of public and private partnerships motivated city leaders to invest in the heart of our shared history (the Butterfield Stage, Wild Bill Hickok, Route 66, etc.) and the spot from where every Springfield address radiates.

While municipalities often are accused of not operating like businesses, updating activity centers is an important part of responding to changing customer needs.

Rob Rector, manager of Battlefield Mall, notes that since the property’s construction in 1970, it added a major expansion in 1982, and invested in major renovations in 1993 and 2006. “Don’t ever become complacent,” Rector advised, pointing to recent new amenities such as a lifestyle center main entrance, family restrooms and a children’s soft-play area. “Listen to your customer base.”

Taking that cue, the city hired architecture firm Butler, Rosenbury and Partners last summer for that very task. Surrounding stakeholders were invited to focus groups, a community workshop and an open house, and hundreds of surveys were completed at events and online. A technical committee of residents, business owners, developers and community leaders from the downtown Springfield Community Improvement District, Downtown Springfield Association and Urban Districts Alliance met regularly with consultants to provide input on the design. In total, more than 750 people took time to convey their ideas and concerns during the past six months.

That public process resulted in six major goals for the square:

• support the emerging entertainment district;

• design the square to be used by all people;

• make the square accessible for all modes of transport, including vehicular but especially pedestrian;

• celebrate Springfield’s history;

• change the space from a passive to an active park; and

• enhance the expanding residential district.

Based on those themes, BRP’s recommended design to City Council included raising the physical level of the square to improve the linkage between the inner and outer parts of the square, preserving the fountain as a recognition of the nationally-renowned designer’s original work, adding spray jets to make the area more attractive to children and families, dramatically increasing the outdoor dining areas, increasing pedestrian lighting, and adding a canopy, sound system and lights in order to host community events.

According to Jay Hickman, owner of downtown businesses Ernie Biggs’ Piano Bar and Planet Smoothie, “I have noticed in Little Rock (and) Fayetteville, (Ark.) and the Branson Landing that their squares have a ton of events which draw people from all over town down to the area. After reviewing the plans for the square, I can definitely tell we will be able to hit everything the other cities have and more.”

An important component of the plan is that no costs will be drawn from the city’s general fund. The inner square will be funded by an $860,000 federal grant. The $1.2 million needed for the outer square, canopy and media towers will be raised from surrounding property owners and leading community individuals and businesses. The remaining $900,000 cost is for streetscapes, or “spokes” of the square, on Park Central East, Park Central West and South Avenue, all of which are in poor condition. Improvements to the spokes will be funded from capital funds specifically allocated to center city in current or future capital budgets.

Time marches on. Thankfully, Springfield has a business community and City Council are committed not to watching the parade, but to leading it.

Rusty Worley, executive director of Urban Districts Alliance, can be reached at rusty@itsalldowntown.com.