City debuts Jordan Creek storm-water project

The project is the first of its kind in Springfield and is a new approach to storm-water management called daylighting.

The $2.87 million project involved removing inadequate drainage tunnels and reconstructing the stream ecosystem through a greenway corridor, with a pedestrian trail connecting the parks. The project provides a 100-year flood capacity to protect adjacent properties and remove them from the floodplain.

The trail goes under four major streets and will eventually make connections to Jordan Valley Park, Hammons Field and nearby college campuses.

A $10,000 grant from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks’ Stewardship Ozarks initiative allowed the city to plant nearly 5,000 native plants and 105 trees along the stream. The 42 different species of plants native to southwest Missouri include a wetland mix for the lower areas that will be exposed to the creek; native prairie plants were chosen for the upper sides of the project to tolerate the soil conditions and sporadic rains.

The underlying turf is Buffalo grass, which is hardy and low-maintenance. Existing native rock walls also were restored.

Funding for the project came from 2001 storm-water bond issue funds, Springfield-Greene County Park Board funds and Transportation Equity Act federal grant money.

JLA Construction and Sprouls Construction were general contractors for the project. Hood-Rich Inc. was the design engineer.