East Central Neighborhood Association / ECNA

(In formation)

Save the Dates!

- August 12 (Thursday), 4:00 PM
  Organizing Group
  Venue: Story House Bookstore
              1150 E. Walnut Street

- August 20 (Thursday), 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  First Event for General Public
  Ice Cream Social
  Venue : Lawn, Christ Episcopal Church
               601 E Walnut Street

- September 3 (Thursday), 6:00 PM
  First meeting of all interested in joining the new association
  Venue : Parish Hall, Christ Episcopal Church
               601 E Walnut Street

Proposal

The Planning Department of the City of Springfield encourages the establishment of neighborhood associations throughout the city. At present there are some 23 such organizations organized.

Here is the department's map of the existing neighborhood associations:

City Planning neighborhood association map

An obvious blank space stretches across the center of the city to the east. Our project is to fill that gap.

What area will the East Central Association cover?

Roughly speaking the boundaries will be Glenstone Avenue to Kimbrough Avenue and Chestnut Expressway to Grand Street (to Elm Street East of National Avenue).

Purposes

Our objectives include:

Foster a sense of common interests across our diverse neighborhood.
Draw together residents, local businesses and professionals in the area for social and other events. (Renters and owners equally.)
Serve as a venue for dialogue with our city council members (three of the four zones meet in our area), the police, firefighters, and other city departments.
Identify and promote activities and projects which could improve our area.
Join with the Downtown Springfield Association and our neighbors the West Central Neighborhood Association and others to promote the central part of Springfield as a place to live and work.

Activities Could Include

Organize social and other events with the aim of allowing neighbors to know one another.
Sponsor neighborhood clean-ups and beautification projects.
Serve as a conduit for communication with city leaders and departments.
Promote dialogue on such issues as traffic noise, development and restoration projects, public transportation – including perhaps support for Amtrak to return passenger service, etc., which will make the central part of town an even more attractive area to live and work.
Reinforce knowledge, protection and presentation of our area's historical and nature patrimony, support expanding more green space, wooded areas (there are several which are barely known – in and out of parks), and further rescue of the almost hidden branches of Jordan Creek.