SBJ.net Poll

Should downtown Springfield’s Park Central Square be redesigned as a park or a plaza?

For poll results, click here.

What Readers Think

Plaza

After a lengthy shunning of downtown, the citizens of Springfield seem to be embracing the concept of re-energizing the historically rich area as a place to work, socialize and live. With a vibrant square, all of us in the “Queen City” will benefit. The plaza concept with its planned garden areas and shaded seating, as well as areas for dining and open, hard-surface areas, makes it a wonderfully diverse and relaxing place to be. I’m especially excited about the incorporation of public art.

The park concept seems to be very similar to what currently exists.

Congratulations to Butler, Rosenbury & Partners and Phil Broyles and the design team, for their energizing plans.

—Leslie Funk, Thistle Grove Designs

A plaza would be fitting for the square with the restaurants and shops already established. If it was made into a park, it might borrow the punch nearby Jordan Valley Park has and should keep.

—Kevin Rusenstrom, Elfindale Retirement Community

A plaza would be a great addition to the downtown area. This would only add to the positive momentum and growth that we have seen downtown.

—Drew Burns, Employee Benefit Design LLC

Other

I am old enough to remember the old public square. I also can remember that the taxpayers paid for urban renewal in 1966–67. That urban renewal was almost as stupid as Joplin’s but not quite as asinine as Kansas City, Kan., or Miami, Okla.

When will government bureaucratic planners understand the brilliance of the marketplace? I will readily concede that there has to be some controls, but this country has spent far too much money – my money, your money – on silly fluff that some planner has conjured in their little peanut brain and pawned off on us to pay the bill and to pay for their overstuffed wages.

I might have been young and impressionable, but the old square with the Fox Theatre, Kresge’s, Newberry’s, Ben Franklin, the bank on the southeast corner, the little shops, the parking on the square, the smell of popcorn, the bag of hot peanuts, was far more exciting and the memory more lasting than the 1966 urban renewal or any park or plaza your planners will ever imagine.

That park-like area is a shame and an outright disgrace; paying for that makes as much sense as “buying lip cancer.” That thing is a magnet for derelicts. We taxpayers are probably paying for their rehabilitation. One-eyed half-sense should know what that monster would draw. I will concede that some of that would happen anyway, but why draw that stuff to what used to be beautiful?

Consider bringing it back ...

—D.W., Genworth Financial Securities Corp.

Current Question

Are your company or personal insurance premiums going up next year?

Vote at sbj.net/poll.[[In-content Ad]]