Opinion: Midsize Springfield casts small-town aura

I realize that most small towns are lacking in such necessities as complete medical services, adequate shopping, dining and entertainment, among other things. On balance, most of us probably need to live at least within easy driving distance of a city.

Granted, Springfield was much smaller when we settled here nearly 40 years ago, but it was large enough to include vital big-city perks. Today, there is absolutely no shortage of shopping and dining places and a variety of entertainment venues.

Urban sprawl

Springfield has emerged into what appears to be a city.

It may be wishful thinking on my part, but for me, a small-town aura hangs over Springfield despite the metropolitan population figures that proclaim it a city.

I have never been one of those “big is better and bigger is even greater” kind of persons. However, I wouldn’t go so far as to stand in the way of progress by chaining myself to a tree to keep it from being leveled to make room for a fast-food parking lot. Let’s face it: Urban sprawl becomes tiresome.

If access to comprehensive health care is a consideration for living near a city, Springfield is awash with hospitals and health care professionals and a variety of specialty clinics. I may be a small-town guy, but I like the big-city health care available in Springfield.

I’m sure some readers may disagree with me when I say that looking at the big picture, Springfield appears to be well-governed. The Springfield R-XII School Board, Greene County Commission and Springfield City Council seem to be made up of local citizens with the best interests of the area in mind. Like in a small town, local citizens step forward to serve, seemingly not for political power. I believe a comparative study of the quality of governance of similar cities would validate my assertion.

Springfield schools, like most others, are learning the difficult lesson that today’s public education costs are massive, making greater demands on tax dollars than ever before. All things considered, Springfield schools seem to be holding up under the burdens and have escaped most of the school disorder and violence that plagues many big-city schools.

Downtown preservation

The effort being made to revive downtown Springfield seems to return the look of yesterday when Springfield was smaller. Jordan Valley Park speaks for itself.

Except for deciding what to do with the plot of ground where a civic arena was slated, things have been well planned and constructed.

I can’t claim to have vast knowledge of minor league baseball parks, but I suspect one would need to look long and hard to find a class Double-A park as beautiful and functional as Hammons Field. The architecture of the ballpark reaches out and blends in with all the new structures and activity areas. The revival of Boonville Avenue and Commercial Street takes us back to another time.

It is to be hoped the eventual improvements of the Heer’s building and Park Central Square are well thought out.

They will never again be the major meeting locale for the entire community, but they can be a magnet attracting from a blend of fine restaurants, music venues, small shops, art dealers, live theatre, movies, the coming College Station and parking garages.

If downtown is attractive and safe, it can be the focus for the entire downtown renaissance.

I like a city that acts and feels like a small town.

Joe McAdoo is former chairman of the communication department at Drury University.[[In-content Ad]]