Will you spend any of the coming warm spring and summer days at Springfield’s riverfront?
In recent years, plenty of effort has gone into making that potentially prime, but long neglected, piece of downtown real estate into an inviting place, including efforts to draw residents and visitors to nearby bike and walking path. (See coverage at the Springfield Intruder, here.)
On Tuesday, May 4, the Urban Land Institute (the consultants that conducted the long-term development plan for the city in 2006), will hold a panel discussion on ways to capture the potential offered by Springfield’s riverfront. The panel—scheduled for 5:30 at the old Visitors Information Center by the basketball Hall of Fame—will follow a day-long study of the area by a group of volunteer engineers, architects and planners.
“We’ll have some fresh eyes take a look at the Riverfront and focus on improving the important connections to downtown and the South End, how to best develop available riverfront land, and how to make Riverfront park more active,” John Judge, the city’s chief development officer, said in a City Hall announcement of the event.
In March, ULI hosted an event at the Hall of Fame focusing on riverfront development in other cities. Tuesday’s event will focus specifically on Springfield. More information, as well as a form to submit comments in advance of the event, can be found at the city Planning Department’s website.
