McDaniel Park pump track, pavilion and playground designs underway

 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

• $550,000 donation from TrailSpring
• $127,472 City of Springfield Zone 4 Minor Neighborhood Improvement Funds
• $106,325 City of Springfield General Carryover Funds (FY 2025-26)

Phase 2: Pavilion and lighting design and construction

• $1 million donation from the Hatch Foundation

Phase 3: Playground, shelters, lighting and benches

• $160,000 grant award from Abilities First
• $661,833 City of Springfield Spring Forward Sales Tax

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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Neighborhood Block Party, Saturday, May 30, 2026 10 a.m.

 

To volunteer for this event, call/text 816-289-6485.

Celebrate Earth Day on April 22, 2026, 6:00 pm

 

Residents of Mark Twain, Meador Park, and University Heights are invited to join us for this special presentation.

Health Department reminds community members of rabies prevention methods

 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 prevention

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.).

Exposure protocol

If you have been bitten or scratched by any wildlife or unfamiliar animals, do the following:

• Wash any wounds immediately with soap and water for 15 minutes
• Using rubbing alcohol or a similar antiseptic to lower the risk of other infections
• Seek urgent medical attention to determine if you need treatment to prevent rabies infection

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:

• If you see wildlife or unfamiliar animals that appear injured or sick
• If you believe your pet may have come into contact with any wildlife or unfamiliar animals
• If you see a bat inside your home

In an emergency, always call 911 immediately.

What is rabies?

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.

Location Announced for Zone 4 Neighborhood Works+ Input Session

 

King’s Way United Methodist Church 

Family Life Center 

2401 S Lone Pine Ave.

Seminole Holland Neighborhood Clean-Up - April 11, 2026

 Watch your mailbox!

Interested in Volunteering?

Need Curbside Pickup?

Call: 417-942-1446

Neighborhood Works+ program Zone Workshops scheduled in March and April

   

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.

Neighborhood Watch Training on March 28, 2026

 

LOCATION CHANGE for Soup & Sides Potluck on February 25, 2026 at 6 p.m.

 

Monthly South Creek Cleanup on Sunday, February 22