JVP planner steps aside

Downtown Springfield’s Jordan Valley Park has lost one of its key organizers.
Benjamin Alexander, who was instrumental in the creation of the new park, has resigned from his post as project manager. Feb. 18 was his last day.
Alexander joined the city’s planning staff in 1996 and took over planning for the new center-city park in 1998.
“I felt that the time was right to look at other opportunities,” he said. “In some ways I’m sad to leave, but I also felt that I need to look for some other opportunities for my professional development. In some respects it’s pretty daunting or nerve-wracking, and in others it’s pretty exciting and challenging.”
Alexander’s next project is to serve on an interim basis as the long-term recovery manager for the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Port Charlotte, Fla., where he will be helping to coordinate recovery efforts from Hurricane Charlie, which struck Florida in August.
In addition to serving as Jordan Valley Park planner, Alexander also held the role of planning services manager for development and review, a position now split between two city employees. Andy Furedy, Springfield zoning administrator, handles the current zoning and planning aspect of Alexander’s job, while Ann Razer, principal planner, handles the long-term comprehensive planning.
Senior Planner Hillary Taylor has taken over the planning duties for Jordan Valley Park. Taylor said she hopes to focus on some of the outdoor aspects of the park.
“At this point, a lot of our larger construction projects are completed, and some of the quieter projects need to be happening in the background,” she said. “One of my main objectives is to really establish the greenway trail that connects the park from east to west and get that completed in the next five to 10 years.”
Taylor said her most important job is that of coordinator.
“A lot of what is going on with Jordan Valley Park right now is being serviced by lots of different departments,” she added. “I really see myself as more of an organizer to maintain a level of consistency among the many different things people are working on. I feel very strongly that I am not the spokesperson for Jordan Valley Park. That role really lies in the advisory committee. I’m here to support the community.”
City Manager Tom Finnie said Alexander brought a lot of important qualities to the job.
“I think first of all he brought some great skills,” Finnie said. “As a landscape architect, he had the right skills for the job, but far more important (was his) enthusiasm and an ability to explain the vision in a way that other people caught the enthusiasm.”
Finnie said Alexander’s administrative skills grew as he held the position, making him a valuable asset to the city.
“When I heard that he was resigning I told him ‘I hate to lose people with the skills that you have, and if there’s anything else (with) the city that appeals to you, you pick what you want to do and we’ll move you over there.’ But he said no; he felt like in his bones it was time to do something different,” Finnie said.