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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