We experienced a slice of each at our August baked potato dinner and program presentation.
Caleb Sanders from the Springfield-Greene County Park Board staff gave us an informative presentation on the history of our neighborhood and specifically McDaniel Park, including topics such as Samuel M. McCorckle, one of the original settlers of the Kickapoo Prairie, wet meadows, bison wallows, the Goose Pond, and the unique aspects of a wet drainageway as an ecological pinnacle. It was a fascinating presentation!
Then Jeff Smith, a landscape architect for Parks, provided an overview of the McDaniel Park improvements coming in 2026! He showed us plans for a new entrance to the park on National (to move it south, out of the current bend on National), as well as a new parking area and a bicycle pump track being funded in partnership with TrailSpring, a Springfield-based 501 (c) (3) geared toward creating and funding trail building opportunities in the Ozarks! We have also learned that Phase 2 of the McDaniel Park project is now also funded to bring a pavilion, restrooms and lighting to the park! Plans for those items are underway, and the project should break ground in the spring. We are working with Parks on a groundbreaking ceremony, so stay tuned!
Neighborhood concern or suggestion?…