SPRINGFIELD – From the lively musical stylings of the Springfield High School Jazz Band to enthusiastic pre-event conversation amongst attendees, the Wildish Theater in Springfield was abuzz on Jan. 30 for 2025’s State of the City Address.
Mayor Sean VanGordon presented a comprehensive list of Springfield’s 2024 highlights and challenges to city leaders and community members while driving enthusiasm for what’s to come in 2025 and beyond.
“Each year through the 2020s, Springfield has faced challenges outside our control. Our citizens have responded with strength, kindness, and grace,” VanGordon said. “Last year, it was a devastating ice storm, and while the ice storm was Springfield’s hardest moment in 2024, it cannot overshadow the many stories that define our year, stories of courage, compassion, resilience, our families, and openness.”
The theme of the address was Our Way Forward, which, as Michelle Webber, Springfield council president and Ward 1 councilor, said, celebrated “resilience, collaboration, and innovative spirit.”
Notable 2024 mentions from Springfield’s City Council included the unveiling of The Esther at Riverbend Assisted Living facility, breaking ground on the Mill Street Project, which will enhance street lighting and accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists, and the completion of a pavement preservation project on 42nd Street, spanning from the entrance of International Paper to Marcola Road. A needed section of 42nd Street and Mohawk Boulevard were also repaved.
The 2018 Street Repair Bond Project from International Paper to Main Street received upgrades to APA ramps, refreshed signage and striking, and a continuous surface.
Last year’s groundbreaking on Alma Apartments at 1875 16th St. will soon provide 39 safe housing units for survivors of domestic violence, senior citizens, and individuals with disabilities.
Looking ahead, VanGordon shared that changes are to come in the Glenwood area. Plans have been submitted to “annex property along the North Riverfront.”
Working in collaboration with Springfield Utility Board and Eugene Water and Electric Board, residents and visitors can expect to see the benefits of “major regional projects that will modernize the utility system in Glenwood, ensuring that services are ready to sustain future growth” VanGordon said.
Along with outlining continuous initiatives from the City and its constituents that will amplify Springfield’s commitments to community excellence and economic growth, VanGordon commended the efforts of three individuals and one local business.
Awards were presented to Kristi Krueger, engineering manager at City of Springfield (Employee of the Year), Jerry’s Home Improvement Center (Business of the Year), Andrew Shearer, Chief of Police (Employee of the Year), and Ken Brown, executive director at the Hope Project (Community Leader of the Year). This organization seeks to fill gaps in the community, from school supplies to Thanksgiving boxes.
“Springfield’s spirit is driven by our restless pursuit of excellence. This spirit shows up in the businesses that innovate, the educators that inspire, and the volunteers who dedicate their time to the betterment of others,” VanGordon said. “It’s a spirit rooted in the belief that hard work pays off, in the certainty that your neighbor will show up for you when you need them most.”
