Council dedicates $40.8M from Spring Forward SGF half-cent tax

Springfield City Council passed a pair of resolutions to dedicate $40.8 million to the Springfield Art Museum and to parks, trails and corridor improvements during its meeting last night.

The legislation includes two appropriations for fiscal 2027: $15 million for the museum and $10.8 million for parks, trails and corridors.

In fiscal 2028, the museum is slated to receive an additional $15 million.

The expenditures were recommended by the city’s Citizens’ Advisory Board, which advises council on its use of the half-cent portion of the Spring Forward SGF three-quarter-cent sales tax funds, on Jan. 22. The other quarter-cent of the tax funds public safety, including a police and fire pension fund obligation, as Springfield Business Journal previously reported.

The unanimous votes came at a time when the CAB is drawing scrutiny from council members and a member of the public.

Distribution of funds
Following the first reading of a separate council bill, one proposing the use of Spring Forward SGF funds for a different set of corridor improvements, Councilmember Brandon Jenson raised the concern that half-cent tax funds were not being distributed throughout the city.

His remarks came during a discussion of a bill to appropriate $75,000 of Spring Forward SGF tax funds for an urban design framework for what is being called the National Avenue and Bennett Street node in the area of the art museum.

“There’s been a lot of Spring Forward sales tax money spent in this area, and I think so far it has all been well spent, but it’s also worth noting that this is one of the wealthiest portions of our community, and so I just want to make sure we’re emphasizing that we’re being mindful in distributing these funds,” Jenson said.

Jenson suggested alternative funds be sought for projects in the area.

Tim Rosenbury, the city’s director of quality of place initiatives, explained that the Public Works department is planning for improvements to the Fassnight Greenway from the art museum to Glenstone Avenue along and including Bennett Street.

“I’m expecting the lessons from the Grant Avenue Parkway project can be applied to this important complete neighborhood street design,” he said.

Rosenbury said with city projects converging on city property at the junction of University Heights and Phelps Grove neighborhoods, the CAB encouraged staff to engage in detailed planning to ensure that the projects are complementary.

Goals are that there be no gaps or overlaps and that the projects as a whole be greater than the sum of their parts, he said.

“That’s an essential characteristic of quality of place,” Rosenbury said.

The plan would be prepared by the entity that crafted the art museum’s long-range plan, Rosenbury said. That’s Kansas City-based architectural firm BNIM.

Council is scheduled to vote on the funding for the National Avenue and Bennett Street node on March 9.

CAB composition
Council received a letter yesterday from Springfield resident and independent government watchdog Linda Simkins regarding another issue with the CAB, and that is the composition of the board.

Simkins said in the letter that the council resolution forming the CAB is in “direct and blatant violation” of the city charter, which establishes requirements for board members. While the council resolution allowed members to have either resided or worked in the city for at least a year, Simkins pointed out a charter requirement from Section 15.5 that states board members “shall have resided in the city not less than two years immediately prior to their appointment, be qualified voters therein, shall reside in the city during their term of office, and shall take the oath prescribed for city officers.” The charter language adds that members of all boards are required to have the same qualifications required for at-large council members.

The resolution that formed the CAB also permitted it to be an eight-member board, while the city charter requires boards to have nine members, Simkins pointed out.

“The violation exposes the city to risk of a declaratory judgment suit with preliminary injunction,” Simkins wrote. “As a taxpayer with standing I could file one and am confident a court would declare the resolution in violation of the charter and potentially void ab initio, i.e. ‘void from the beginning.’”

Simkins said the CAB could be found to be a nullity from the moment of its inception, and that could call into question its $30 million allocation to fund a proposed downtown convention and events center.

Reached today by phone, Mayor Jeff Schrag said the issue is something he’s looking into.

“The previous council did that, and I know they spent some time deciding on the current composition,” he said. “It falls into that category of don’t speak ill of the dead or your elders. I try not to speak ill of previous public servants.”

Schrag said the issue might merit some discussion.

“I’m trying to figure everything out – figure out a path,” he said.

He added that he saw no merit in a letter sent by Simkins earlier this month on the issue of inadequate oversight of the city’s special taxing districts, particularly community improvement districts and their boards.

“That was based in almost all errors and no facts,” he said.

Even so, Councilmember Jenson elevated Simkins’ concerns to a public discussion in the Feb. 9 council meeting, saying council has seen examples of developers using special taxing districts to pay for costs that would normally be borne by property owners. He added two examples, the Galloway and Sunshine Towne Centre CIDs, that he said failed to meet reporting and governance requirements due to limited oversight ability of the city.

Art museum funds
The funds that were dedicated by council last night would pay for Phase 2 of an ongoing renovation and expansion project for the Springfield Art Museum.

Museum Director Nick Nelson said the project leverages local funds with state, federal and private, philanthropic investment, and the museum will continue its private sector fundraising efforts.

“With passage of this resolution, construction will begin fall 2026,” he said. “The art museum aims to celebrate our 100th anniversary in 2028 in a fully realized facility.”

Nelson said Phase 1 focuses on interior improvements, including older parts of the building, where components have reached the end of their life cycle and where sections are no longer functional.

“Phase 1 really ensures long-term maintenance while enhancing public spaces with new galleries and classrooms for educational programs,” he said.

Phase 2 aims to transform the exterior of the museum while expanding public programming areas and integrating the art museum with surrounding parkland and green space, he said.

“Phase 2 is about more than just constructing a building; it’s about creating a destination,” he said.

Public programming spaces are part of the plan, while the external transformation will create an iconic architectural presence along National Avenue, Nelson said.

“We’re really excited about elevating this cultural amenity for Springfield and the region and making our community more livable and lovable for residents and a more vibrant destination for visitors,” he said.

The funds dedicated to Phase 2 will complete the project, Nelson said, but fundraising will continue to support future operations and maintenance.

Nine members of the public, mostly members of the museum’s board of directors, spoke up in support of the project.

Councilmember Craig Hosmer thanked the CAB as well as the voters of the city who approved the tax to move forward with transformational projects.

“Thirty million dollars is a lot of money, but it’s not what we can build; it’s what we should build for our city,” he said.

He said the tax funds allow the city to do things it deserves.

“We deserve an art museum that is world class. We deserve parks and recreational facilities that are world class,” he said. “I think this gives us a firm step, and I think it’s also a promise to the community that we’re going to deliver on the things that make this city better.”

Councilmember Bruce Adib-Yazdi said the project is in a strategic location.

“When you look at a map of Springfield and you look at all the amenities within a half-mile of the art museum, this feels like the center of gravity of our city, and I feel like this is a really important area to continue to invest in, and I think this is going to be an amazing hub for lots of things in the future.”

Parks, trails and corridors

Ron Schneider, director of the Springfield-Greene County Park Board, said the CAB on Nov. 19, 2025, voted to recommend funding of park improvement projects, a trail construction project and three trail and corridor planning initiatives.

The projects are as follows:

• Inclusive destination playground at McDaniel Park, $645,833 – a replacement of outdated existing playground equipment

• Meador Park pickleball complex, $3.6 million – replacing existing tennis courts with at least 16 new dedicated pickleball courts and other site amenities

• Chadwick Flyer construction, $1.8 million – addition of two miles of completed trail from Kissick Avenue to Trail of Honor

• Dickerson Park Zoo improvements and master plan development, $850,000 – new eagle exhibit, nature-based playground and master plan development

• Lafayette Park master plan improvements, $$1.4 million – plan approved October 2025 includes improvements like playground enhancements, pickleball courts and site amenities

• Trail and corridor planning initiatives, $2.5 million – Ozark Greenways and Public Works have prioritized UnGap the Map planning, Grant Avenue Parkway corridor planning from College Street to Hillcrest High School and a connector plan for the Frisco Highline Trail from the Kearney trailhead to downtown

Schneider said the projects would commence in July upon approval with completion in 2027 or early 2028.

Schneider pointed out numerous funding partners for each of the projects or areas adjoining them; they included Springfield Public Schools, the Ozarks Pickleball Club and private donors.

“I sincerely appreciate your consideration of this bill that will help shape the future of parks, trails and improve the overall quality of life for residents and visitors alike,” he said.

Adib-Yazdi praised the collection of projects, particularly the McDaniel Park improvements, which he said are needed.

Lauren Southern, assistant vice president and private banker at Simmons Bank, spoke in favor of the park, trail and corridor improvements, saying the CAB recommendation reflects strong community alignment.

“Tonight’s resolution represents a continued commitment to strengthening Springfield’s overall quality of life,” she said.

She added the projects help to ensure Springfield remains a place where people of all ages and ability can work, live and play, while supporting neighborhood vitality and enhancing the appeal of the city.

“On behalf of the business community, I want to show our appreciation of the collaborative approach reflected in this recommendation and the careful consideration given to how these funds are allocated,” she said.