Can Streets and Drainage help?

Can Streets and Drainage help?

On Thursday the Springfield parks task force is meeting with the COJ Streets and Drainage dept. The meeting was supposed to be with Jeff Beck, head of the Dept, but this morning we were notified that we were meeting with a different manager within the dept. The task force has been in touch with Mr. Beck on a fairly regular basis since March, meaning that he has a fair understanding of what the task force wants to accomplish. Since the meeting is with someone who has never been privy to our goals, an email was sent containing the questions we are hoping to answer.

For starters, we want to learn if there is anything that can be done about Hogan’s Creek from a trash, litter, and debris standpoint. The Streets and Drainage Dept is presumably in charge of the creek because much of Springfield’s run off drains into the creek. When all of the debris and trash come to rest against the various obstructions across the creek, it acts like a dam, helping make an already tenuous drainage situation even worse. This debris needs to be cleared from the creek. This not only beautifies the creek, but makes it more functional from a drainage stand point.

Secondly, graffiti has been a problem on the various bridges over Hogan’s creek for years. With the help of the Block Captains, the Klutho bridges are being addressed. Streets and Drainage has also helped by covering over graffiti on the Pearl and Broad St bridges. The problem is, they are painting JUST the graffiti, leaving the rest of the bridge unpainted. This makes it look like someone went nuts with whiteout on the bridge.

Lastly, lighting is desperately needed under the two previously mentioned bridges. There are walkways that go under them connecting the parks. There was at one point lighting but it has since been vandalized. This is a different time in Springfield, and items like this should not be allowed to be put off because it “might happen again”. Streets and Drainage has maintained that is it not their responsibility to replace this lighting. That is fine, but since they have ownership of the bridges they should be able to at least let it be known who can replace the lights. This lighting is vital for the safety of the parks users, as well as runners and bicyclists who are currently forced to run across two fairly well travel roadways.