City reallocates federal funds for infrastructure projects

Springfield’s Planning and Development Department reallocated $5.7 million of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds to pay for city parks, infrastructure and sidewalk projects.

Funding for the projects through HUD's Community Development Block Grant program breaks down to $2.4 million to public infrastructure, $1.4 million to commercial loans and $1.9 million for affordable housing loans , according to a city news release.

Springfield uses CDBG funds for its loan program to fund projects. The city had to spend a portion of its balance of the funds to avoid penalties from HUD due to a change of when funds could be spent, said Cora Scott, Springfield’s director of public information and civic engagement.

The city missed the original deadline of May 17 due to site control issues, weather delays and regulatory delays, but HUD determined the circumstances were out of the city’s control and penalties were not incurred, she said.

“The Public Works Department, contractors and the Parks Department moved heaven and earth to get these projects done,” Scott said.

So far, three park projects improving playground equipment and trails have been completed at Tom Watkins Park, Nichols Park and Meador Park, along with seven sidewalk improvement projects, according to the release.

A trail connection improvement between Cruse Dog Park and Ewing Park also was completed.

A $300,000 loan to Eden Village, which provides tiny homes to homeless individuals, and a $1 million loan to rehabilitate the former Pepperdine Elementary School to house the Springfield Affordable Housing Center dubbed The O’Reilly Center for Hope also were included in the project list for CDBG spending, according to the release.

The former elementary school, owned by Community Partnership of the Ozarks Inc., is being prepared for rehabilitation.

The O’Reilly family of O’Reilly Automotive Inc. matched the $1 million loan from HUD for funding of the new center.

Other projects that are in progress are new picnic tables and park benches at Jenny Lincoln Park and trail improvements at Cooper Park.