Community Concerns: Meeting a celebration of downtown's success

Many of the groups and organizations dedicated to center city's revitalization gathered recently to share their plans, ideas and successes.

In attendance were members of The Downtown Springfield Association, Urban Districts Alliance, Community Improvement District, ddec.net, Southwest Missouri State University and Jordan Valley Park Advisory Committee.

Hosted by DSA and its enthusiastic new president, Lisa Nally, the gathering was in stark contrast to meetings involving our downtown just 10 years ago.

Incredible things have happened in the past 10 years, and many of those responsible for the changes were present, and proudly so, including Jim Anderson of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce; Bob Cumley representing the city of Springfield; Dave Coonrod, presiding commissioner for Greene County; Jim Baker of SMSU; and members of various downtown groups.

The once-desolate Park Central Square is now an attractively landscaped area, ringed with offices and loft apartments and surrounded by fine dining, arts events, and entertainment, all within walking distance.

Many of the buildings sport improved facades, courtesy of the Facade Improvement Loan program. Two historic downtown hotels are being restored, SMSU is planning a major renovation of the Jim D. Morris Building and the Landers and Gillioz Theatres are in the midst of major capital improvements.

The recent completion of the Boonville Streetscape began the reuniting of Park Central Square and the Commercial Street historic district and provides access alongside the emerging Founders Park to our soon-to-be crown jewel of downtown, Jordan Valley Park.

The Discovery Center is buzzing with children and families, and public art is going up on buildings all around downtown. Everywhere there is energy and activity.

The "alphabet soup" program featured brief presentations by DSA's past president, Bob Horton, UDA President Jim Stout, Matt Miller of the ddec.net, Jim Baker, of SMSU, and Pat Walker for the Jordan Valley Park Citizens Advisory Committee.

Each spoke of their organization's mission and recent activities. DSA, a merchant's association, has placed banners in and around downtown promoting events and public furniture on the square.

UDA, responsible for implementing the center city element of the Vision 20/20 plan, is now working with the CID, a self-taxing entity of downtown businesses, which pools resources to provide a "clean, safe and friendly" environment for shoppers and downtown patrons.

Miller reported that the ddec.net is a marketing and promotion organization presenting festivals and special events to bring people downtown: Jordan Valley Park will provide a major economic boost to the entire center city area through facilities such as the proposed recreational ice facility, green space with a fountain, exposition center, civic arena and a baseball stadium.

Jim Baker was the featured speaker and presented a review of SMSU's commitment to downtown in recent years.

(Jan Horton is President and CEO of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. She is proud to be a lifelong volunteer, devotee of the arts, nature lover and environmentalist.)