The Springfield Board of Education granted permission for the City of Springfield to use school district property for construction easements on two projects.
During its June 25 meeting, the Springfield Board of Education granted easements and to the City of Springfield at Campbell Early Childhood Center and Carver Middle School.
Easements and deeds for both projects were approved with 7-0 votes from the board.
Grant Avenue Parkway expansion
The city government asked for a temporary construction easement, utility easement and a permanent road right of way deed at Campbell Early Childhood Center, located at 506 S. Grant Ave. It is part of the latest work on the Grant Avenue Parkway project, a $26 million beautification project that will add a three-mile path for bicyclists and pedestrians.
The parkway will run roughly from College to Sunshine streets, connecting downtown Springfield and the West Central neighborhood to the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium. One of the project's goals is to encourage additional residential and business development.
Grant Ave. is limited to one-way, southbound traffic between Walnut and Grand streets in connection with the project. It is hoped to be completed in late 2024, according to a website about the project.
The temporary construction easement grants the city the ability to use parts of the Campbell property for building purposes, and calls for the city to restore property to its original condition or better.
Campbell is the home of the district’s Wonder Years program, a pre-kindergarten school with 10 classrooms. Capable of accommodating up to 200 students, the center also serves as a district hub for Parents as Teachers.
Named for John Polk Campbell, the school’s building was constructed in 1931, according to the Springfield Public Schools website. However, a school has been at the site since 1884.
The construction does not require any relocation of the historic building.
Stream buffer near Carver Middle School
The board of education granted a perpetual, variable width easement along the northern property line of Carver Middle School and Fulbright Early Childhood Center. South Creek and the South Creek Greenway Trail run along that border.
The city government asked Springfield Public Schools for a permanent stream buffer easement in order for city workers to access parts of the stream. As part of the project, they will complete reconstruction, repair, preservation or other types of projects maintaining the health of the waterway.
Buffer zones are maintained in order to benefit stormwater runoff quality, stream preservation efforts and flood control, according to documentation provided to the school board.
