Community Listen Meetings

In May 2015, City of Springfield officials and the leaders of various organizations from across the community shared information and heard concerns from residents from nine northwest Springfield neighborhoods, many of which are both challenged by aging infrastructure and replete with possibilities.

The listening tour was prompted by alarming trends revealed on intensity maps, viewable at right.

Higher negative indicators such as crime, illness and poverty were more found to be more concentrated in the northwest “zone” of the community; meanwhile positive indicators such as food and play space access were lacking. City leaders looked back at five to 10 years’ worth of data and saw this was more than a snapshot in time. 

These were trends that showed no signs of slowing, despite a decade worth of observation.

Residents shared their concerns and voted to indicate priorities. The top three issues that residents would like to see addressed were chronic nuisance properties, sidewalk and other roadway issues and crime and safety concerns. 

Other issues identified in the listening meetings included food access, health and wellness, transportation and technology access. 
 
"Since that time, we've all been very busy at work with a 167 community partners and over 200 people working on some solutions and ideas that might help us resolve some of our issues," says Zone 1 Councilwoman Phyllis Ferguson.

Following the May listening tour, the city’s 40 partner organizations in the initiative grew to an army of more than 150 partner organizations and 266 individuals (as of Jan. 8). This large group of folks interested in improving quality of life in northwest Springfield divided into topic teams to address each area of concern. See their recommendations below.

Recruited largely in part by City Manager Burris, partner organizations agreed to immediate action planning to improve life in the under-resourced neighborhoods.

The group divided into 11 topic teams, each led by two coaches. Teams recruited players from partner organizations, ending up with dream-team rosters, including heavy hitters ranging from CEOs to ministers to doctors.

View the teams' full drafted ideas and recommendations at right. View the teams' summarized drafted ideas and recommendations here. 

Please note that these drafted ideas and recommendations may require City Council approval or other legislative or organizational review.

Data presented at the Community Listen meetings


Negative data indicators such as crime, illness and poverty were more found to be more concentrated in Springfield's northwest quadrant (also known as Zone 1, while positive indicators such as food and play space access were lacking. City leaders looked back at five to 10 years’ worth of data and saw this was more than a snapshot in time. View the data by clicking the links below.
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11 Topic Teams' Recommendations