After April 7's 'no' vote on the proposed lodging tax, Mayor Jeff Schrag is launching an event series to hear from residents on ideas to improve Springfield. Will you participate?

Our city needs to attract tourism beyond competitive sports; once a family goes to Bass Pro, then what? The Discovery Center is cool, so let’s add to intellectual activities perhaps focused on our geography like water-borne activities or an interactive music museum for teens. How about a one-atop activity center that provides bowling, indoor/outdoor golf, electronic arcade games, a theater for productions and concerts. Perhaps a public graffiti wall tourists could leave their mark in; perhaps more building murals to enhance downtown. I have a ton of ideas to share.