Springfield residents give feedback on Sunshine Street corridor study
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — On Tuesday, June 3, residents were invited to voice their opinions on the Sunshine Street Corridor Study, between Kansas Expressway and Glenstone Avenue.
The purpose of this plan is to analyze existing conditions and work with the public to help set the vision of the street and the surrounding neighborhoods.
There are five for the study: Engagement, Safety, Revitalization, Place, and Balance Community Needs.
The City of Springfield hopes that the feedback will help create a Sunshine Street that will:
Balances mobility & local needs
Prioritizes safety for everyone traveling on streets and sidewalks in the study area
Guides improvements
Supports neighborhood goals and vision defined in Forward SGF
A presentation was given to attendees, providing more insight into the project and how their feedback will play a part in it.
Afterwards, people could move freely around to board stations that provided more information on Sunshine, as well as sticky notes where they could pin their feedback.
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'This is kind of a unique approach the city is taking with multiple departments, with multiple disciplines coming together to look at not just the traffic and transportation corridor, but also looking at quality of life, quality of place and what it's really like to live in and around the area as well,' says Cora Scott, spokesperson for the City of Springfield.
According to Scott, one of the main reasons for the study is to improve safety.
'It's becoming more heavily trafficked in. Also we're having more crashes, particularly at access areas as people in and out of driveways and such along that corridor,' Scott said. 'So that's the number one reason to look at what could be some infrastructure improvements to help with that. Not necessarily to constantly speed up traffic, but just to make it safer for people, pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers along the route.'
Ozarks First spoke to some Springfield residents attending the event who expressed their own opinions on the project.
'I'm hopeful that this is going to go the right way and I plan to be part of it to try to ensure that it is steered in the right way,' said Donell Dunbar about the project, 'I live in University Heights neighborhood, which is kind of known as a contested neighborhood. And I want this to go right because it's on our doorstep and we need it to go right for the city as well to preserve the history that we have and to provide a very welcoming place for visitors, residents, everyone who comes to our city.'
Dunbar believes that older buildings should be torn down to make way for new ones.
'I would like to see the vacant businesses addressed. Let's tear them down and build something more useful. If they're not going to be used before we start tearing historical homes down, for instance.'
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For Rick and Sally Keen, the biggest issue is traffic.
'There's too many cars going in and out on Sunshine Street, 'said Sally Keen. 'I think it'd be nice if they had alleys behind the building of some sort.'
'Something needs to be done for the traffic, the speeders. And that's a major problem, especially late at night shifts,' added Rick Keen.
Scott states that there will be at least 'two to three more times to engage' with residents in the future, saying the next survey will include a design charrette, where the designers will sit at tables and the public can discuss further details on the project.
A completed plan for the project is expected to be finished in early 2026.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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