City hits Route 66 crowdfunding goal

Two days ahead of the 66-day timeline, the city of Springfield hit its crowdfunding goal for a Route 66 roadside park project.

After raising more than $10,000 in the first 48 hours, smaller donations trickled in during the next 62 days to put the project over its $15,000 goal through Springfield-based crowdfunding website, CrowdIt.com.

Councilman Craig Fishel pushed the campaign over the top with a $1,000 donation and, as of this morning, investors contributed $15,126, $126 over goal.

The Birthplace of Route 66 roadside park is set to be installed along the College Street stretch of Historic Route 66 between Grant Avenue and Kansas Expressway. Funds raised during the initial campaign are earmarked to cover construction costs for a recreation of the iconic Red’s Giant Hamburg sign, a major landmark along the Mother Road in Springfield, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.

The city plans to break ground on the project in April, with the sign likely to be installed this summer. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the park is part of the planned activities around the annual Birthplace of Route 66 Festival in August, according to a news release.

Springfield Director of Planning Ralph Rognstad estimates costs of the complete park would be about $1 million. The city will fund certain infrastructure improvements along College Street, but "must leverage its investment in the project with private donations and other sources of funding," according to the release.

"We hope to make Springfield the stop along the famed, historic byway," City Manager Greg Burris said in the release.

Future funding would be used for the roadside park and schematic planning services. Upcoming projects include a filling station replica, vending machines and visitor information, a relocated motor court cottage with restrooms, a Birthplace of Route 66 sculpture and a Lily-Tulip/Solo Cup sculpture, according to SBJ archives.