The Downtown Springfield Association (DTA) held a “listening session” Saturday morning, at the Downtown Church. DSA Executive Director Crystal Quade and a team from PeopleCentric (Philip & Don) spoke with about 20 people. These are my random notes.

Amenities mentioned by attendees: Bookstores, restaurants;  Comedy club; Outdoor seating; Pocket Park; Movie theaters.

There are 12 new businesses downtown this summer, and 200 businesses in the Downtown Business Directory: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/590792541b10e3089ee8c363/t/69e3932a71a78d6b1aceffe3/1776522026101/2026+Downtown+Busines+Guide.pdf

Not surprisingly, one topic was parking:

• Just this past Thursday just after 6pm, I tried to visit the Bookmarx bookstore, but all nearby parking was taken, apparently due to an event at the Landers Theater. I have mobility issues, so I just headed home instead of seeking a more distant parking spot.
• For some recent events [ArtsFest, Pride, and a Josh Johnson comedy show], I was only able to find parking 5-6 blocks away. And Springfield’s downtown sidewalks are marginally accessible for a person using a walker or wheelchair.
• Some business owners reported problems due to a lack of loading zones, and recent 2-hour limits that impact employee parking.
• There is no mechanism in place for downtown visitors to easily learn about any available free parking downtown. Navigation guidance would be wonderful.
• here is apparently no effort to notify residents or businesses when event permits are issued that close some downtown streets; a Friday night event was a surprise. The City has a web page listing these but often the permits are approved very late; no mailed notices.(Perhaps add an email or text notice system?)
• A downtown “trolley” or bus would be helpful.

Public safety was another concern.

• Springfield has incidents after bars close between midnight and 2am.
• One suggestion was to have an information “kiosk” downtown, staffed by police or others. Or have police on bicycles instead of cars. Some folks were not aware that the Springfield Police Department has an office just off the Square.
• When the topic of “calling 911” came up, I mentioned that Springfield was different from other cities I’ve lived in, because there is simply no “non-emergency” police phone number to report less-serious issues at most times. All calls to 911 are “triaged” by staff.
• A recent surge in broken storefront windows was mentioned, with slow repairs being made.
• The presence of “unhoused” people is also a concern. Springfield provides very limited shelter for homeless folks, except when temperatures fall below freezing.
• Some folks use public fountains in Park Central Square for bathing and washing clothes, and spread clothes out to dry; this isn’t conducive to tourist photo ops nor a feeling of safety.
• Springfield is now enforcing a permit requirement for any free food distribution.

I learned that responsibility for the downtown area is fractured (overlap).
City of Springfield:

• Downtown Springfield Community Improvement District (CID) for public safety, beautification and cleanup, and marketing; https://www.itsalldowntownCID.com/
• Springfield Regional Arts Council (SRAC), for monthly Art Walks and annual ArtsFest; https://www.springfieldarts.org/

• Downtown Springfield is currently included in the city’s “West Central Neighborhood” but may seek to split off as a separate neighborhood.

A recent new law may permit the state to consolidate the offices currently located in multiple buildings on the Square, which could lead to their sale.

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Springfield CIDs:
https://cosmo.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=26845fe76314416b8542df22024c3109

https://www.springfieldmo.gov/663/Community-Improvement-District

Community Improvement Districts:

Airport Plaza

Brentwood N/S
Brody Corners
College Station
Commercial Street https://www.historiccstreet.org/about/cid-c-street/
Convention and Entertainment
Cottle’s Range
Downtown Springfield
Galloway
Glenstone and Kearney
Glenstone Marketplace
James River Commons
Kansas and Kearney
Kay Point Place
Northwest Area
Ridge at Ward Farm
SGF Sports
Southern Hills
Springfield Plaza
Sunshine Towne Centre
The Shoppes at James River