From Springfield Greene County Parks department:
Springfield-Greene County Park Board News Posted on April 15, 2026
SPRINGFIELD,
MO — Transformative change is in motion for the Springfield-Greene County Park
Board’s McDaniel Park, with designs now underway for the new pump track,
pavilion with restrooms, and destination playground.
McDaniel Park improvements had originally been planned for
three staggered building phases, starting with the pump track, announced in
January 2025. But generous support from TrailSpring, the Hatch Foundation, Abilities First and the City of
Springfield has expedited the timeline, allowing all three phases to take place
at once. Construction is set to begin in August, with opening planned in Spring
2027.
“We are extremely grateful for the funding support for this
project, which has accelerated completion of all three phases,” said Ron
Schneider, Director of Parks. “Our team is working diligently to move this
project from design to construction. We look forward to transforming McDaniel
Park into a vibrant recreation area.”
The
overall plan calls for development of much of the eastern
half of McDaniel Park, bordered by Broadmoor Street, National
Avenue and Sunset Street.
Pump track designer American Ramp Company has released
a preliminary
plan for the 783-foot long asphalt pump track loop, including a
starting platform, undulating curves and hills, a 180-degree wallride, a
double-wide 160-foot acceleration lane, and lighting. The pump track is
intended for bicycles, roller skates, scooters, skateboards, etc. Riders create
momentum with body movements to propel themselves along the track. Pump tracks
may be enjoyed by beginner cyclists, kids, families and more experienced
riders, to strengthen skills while having fun. The pump track will be the first
of its kind in Springfield, located just north of the current McDaniel Park
parking lot, which will be removed, along with the open-air shelter.
Springfield-based Arkifex Studios has shared renderings of
the Hatch
Pavilion, a modern open-air design with a W-shaped roofline and colorful
walls and beams. The 40’ x 80’ pavilion includes restrooms, picnic tables and
lighting, located north of the new Pump Track, near the middle of McDaniel
Park. A drive-by
rendering video shows how the pavilion would be viewed from National
Avenue.
The destination playground will include inclusive playground
design, welcoming kids of all abilities. Preliminary plans call for an
ADA-compliant 360-degree transfer slide, as well as accessible spinners and
rockers, ground-level features, ramps and rope features. To help prevent
elopements, the playground perimeter will be fenced. The new playground will be
in McDaniel Park’s north quadrant, just south of current playground, which will
be removed to make room for new play features.
Rounding out the project is a new driveway entrance, south
of the current driveway entrance, at a safer spot on National Avenue; a new
55-space parking lot, between the new pavilion and new playground; additional
shaded seating areas; new tree plantings; benches and lighting. The current
driveway will be converted to a concrete pedestrian path, connecting all the
park features.
McDaniel Park improvements are 100-percent funded by generous partner groups
and the City of Springfield, including:
Phase 1: Pump track, parking and driveway design and
construction
Phase 2: Pavilion and lighting design and construction
Phase 3: Playground, shelters, lighting and benches
TOTAL COST: $2,605,639
Project timeline
The Park Board anticipates construction documents to be
completed by May 29. Construction contracts are planned to be finalized by
early August, coinciding with a groundbreaking ceremony. The pump track is
scheduled to be finished in October, with the pavilion, restrooms, parking lot,
playground and remaining construction completed by early 2027. A grand opening
and ribbon cutting is expected in Spring 2027.
About McDaniel Park
McDaniel Park, 2405 S. National Ave., is near the center of
Springfield at South National Avenue and East Sunset Street, is an important
nexus for cycling and recreational trail use.
The park’s South
Creek Greenway trailhead is the kickoff for six miles of greenway
trail, connecting McDaniel Park to The
Link, an eight-mile north-south on-street bike route, near Holland Avenue
and Sunset. From there, South Creek Greenway continues westward beneath
Campbell Avenue, over Kansas Expressway, through Nathanael Greene/Close
Memorial Park, and connecting to Carver Middle School. Near West Battlefield
Road and West Bypass/160, the greenway transitions to a half-mile on-street
bike route before connecting to the five-mile Wilson’s
Creek Greenway at Tal’s Trailhead, west of Springfield city
limits.
Later this year, construction is scheduled to begin on an
eastward expansion of the South Creek Greenway along Sunset Street, connecting
McDaniel Park to Meador Park and Glenstone Avenue. By on-street bike
trails, cyclists may continue eastward and connect to the Galloway Creek
Greenway.
McDaniel Park opened as a 15-acre green space in 1998. The
park is named for Robert Edward “Lee” McDaniel, an acclaimed horse trainer and
riding instructor who operated a stable near his home at 1156 E. Broadmoor, on
what’s now park property. McDaniel Park is adjacent to George Moore Park, 20
acres of largely undeveloped land. The Park Board has no current plans for
development of George Moore Park.
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The Springfield-Greene County Health Department (SGCHD) has identified a positive rabies case in a skunk. This is Greene County’s first positive rabies result in 2026. While the exposure risk to the community remains low, SGCHD would like to take this opportunity to remind community members of rabies prevention methods.
Rabies is a fatal but preventable disease. The virus can spread to people and pets through the bites or scratches of infected animals. An infected animal will not always exhibit any obvious symptoms. The best way to prevent the spread of rabies is to keep your distance from wildlife. Pet owners can lower their risk by keeping their pets up to date on rabies vaccines and keeping them away from wild animals.
Rabies is found naturally in some Missouri wildlife—primarily bats and skunks. However, other mammals can test positive for rabies, including domestic species such as dogs, cats, horses, and cattle. Do not approach animals who appear to be injured, sick, or dead. This is especially true if you see animals during the day who are usually active at night (skunks, raccoons, etc.).
If you have been bitten or scratched by any wildlife or unfamiliar animals, do the following:
Rabies treatment is nearly 100% effective if you get it after exposure. It includes wound care, human rabies immune globulin, and a series of rabies vaccines. These vaccines must be given as soon as possible after an exposure.
Additionally, contact Springfield-Greene County Animal Control by filling out the Report Form on our website in the following situations:
In an emergency, always call 911 immediately.
Rabies is a virus that primarily affects the central nervous system. In both humans and animals, once clinical signs of rabies appear, the disease is nearly always fatal.
For humans, the time between exposure to the virus and appearance of symptoms can last weeks to months. The first symptoms of rabies include fever, headache, weakness, or discomfort. Severe disease appears within two weeks of the first symptoms. Symptoms of severe disease include anxiety, confusion, agitation, and hallucinations.
Symptoms of rabies in animals include fearfulness, aggression, excessive drooling, difficulty swallowing, staggering, paralysis, and seizures. The American Veterinary Medical Association notes that some animals may be uncharacteristically affectionate, exhibit depression, or experience increased sensitivity to light.
King’s Way United Methodist Church
Family Life Center
2401 S Lone Pine Ave.
The City of Springfield will host a series of neighborhood workshops per City Council Zone in March and April with the goal of discussing potential Neighborhood Works+ projects with neighborhood residents and gathering feedback.
Neighborhood Works+ is an expanded version of the City of Springfield’s longstanding Neighborhood Works program, thanks to a $5 million Spring Forward SGF sales tax allocation to deliver visible, high-impact, community-driven neighborhood improvements. The funding was recommended by the Citizens’ Advisory Board (CAB), appointed to review potential projects to fund with the ½-cent voter approved sales tax. City Council subsequently approved it.
More than 560 total project ideas were received by the City during a six-week idea gathering phase beginning in mid-December. Public Works project managers then completed initial feasibility assessments and grouped individual ideas into about 160 project concepts.
Neighborhood residents from the City’s 24 registered neighborhoods are invited to learn more about the proposed concepts and provide feedback during four open house workshops according to City Council zone:
ZONE 2: 4:30 – 6:30, Tuesday, March 24 –
Schweitzer Church Student Center (2701 E. Sunshine Street)
Delaware, Doling, Oak Grove, Robberson, Rountree, and Weller neighborhoods
ZONE 1: 4:30 – 6:30, Tuesday, March 31 –
Cox Health Fountain Room (1423 N. Jefferson Ave.)
Bissett, Grant Beach, Heart of the Westside, Midtown, Tom Watkins, Westside, and Woodland Heights neighborhoods
ZONE 3: 4:30 – 6:30, Thursday, April 2 –
Chesterfield Family Center (2511 W. Republic Rd.)
Fassnight, Greater Parkcrest, Mark Twain, Phelps Grove, and West Central neighborhoods
ZONE 4: 4:30 – 6:30, Thursday, April 9 – LOCATION TO BE DETERMINED
Bradford Park, Brentwood, Galloway Village, Meador Park, Seminole-Holland, and University Heights neighborhoods
Next Steps
City staff began working alongside a subcommittee of the Neighborhood Advisory Council (NAC) in January to determine scoring criteria for Neighborhood Works+ projects based on readiness, feasibility and community value. The subcommittee is comprised of two neighborhood representatives from each City Council zone, including Pete Radecki, Peggy Wise, Nancy Williams, Brent Rinker, William Cooper, Dee Ogilvy, Duane Keys, and Michael Brittian. The subcommittee will reconvene following the Zone workshops to review feedback from Zone Workshops and begin scoring projects.
Final project ideas are expected to be presented to the CAB for recommendation for City Council approval this summer. The first round of neighborhood projects is targeted to be under construction in fall of 2026.
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