McClure touts sports tourism, lambasts divisiveness in annual State of the City address

Newly reelected to a final term in office, Springfield Mayor Ken McClure touted increased economic development and sports tourism during his annual State of the City address, while lambasting divisiveness in public and private life.

The live-streamed address was given to Springfield-Area Chamber of Commerce members as part of their monthly "Good Morning, Springfield" series. Speaking before a backdrop of the city's skyline projected on Evangel University's chapel stage, McClure said he has "never been prouder of Springfieldians and their determination, their grit, and resilience."

The speech was McClure's seventh such address, and his second-to-last overall. Unlike the speeches in recent years, pandemic recovery was not a major focus. Instead, McClure stuck to an unflinchingly optimistic tone while highlighting the various projects in Springfield he hopes will make Springfield grow and prosper.

Some of these projects include the daylighting of Jordan Creek, the Grant Avenue Parkway project, and development of a Lake Springfield Plan. He also pointed to Springfield residents' support of the city's growth with the overwhelming passage of a hotel/motel tax overhaul as well as Springfield Public Schools' "Proposition S" bond issue earlier in April.

"They make it clear that they want us to invest in our community and make forward progress. We can do that fast by focusing on what unites us and working together to achieve. We must move forward past the division we have seen by uniting around the common vision of our comprehensive plan Forward SGF and working together to accomplish it ...," he said.

"These projects will improve our quality of life, quality of place, supporting local businesses to increase tourism. Springfield has seen unprecedented levels of investment due to prudent savings in the past and through state and federal funding support we have listened to you responded by being the cautious and strategic stewards of these funds."

He also pointed to the city's focus on sports tourism as the path for Springfield's future. These include the Cooper Sports complex, public improvements to Betty and Bobby Allison Sports Town, the city's purchase of the Fieldhouse Sportscenter and the recently finalized purchase of Hammons Field.

"Continuing the tradition of family fun is so much more than baseball. Baseball is about celebrating the past, paying attention to detail, process, and the small things, but working to get the next win and the next championship. We need to take the same approach in building and growing our community as we think bigger, and we move boldly."

These projects show the state and the world that Springfield is "wide open for business," and can be an industry leader for sports tourism, he added.

McClure praised the Springfield Police Department and said the department is trending towards full staff. Overall crime in Springfield fell 17% in 2022 but McClure warned gun violence remains a top concern.

"In 2022, Springfield surpassed 2021 in the total number of shots fired calls, the number of individuals injured because of shots fired and the number of illegal guns seized by SPD."

McClure also praised the city's efforts to address dilapidated and run down properties in the city — saying those refusing to maintain their property must be held "accountable for letting our housing stock and neighborhoods disappear."

The main theme over McClure entire speech was an urge against divisiveness and a call for the community to come together to bring Springfield to the future.

"Do leaders shape the times or do the times summon their leader? I believe it is a little bit of both. It is more complicated than ever to strengthen our community fabric. Build bridges. Not divides. See in one another, what we desire most to see in ourselves ...," he said, wrapping up the address.

"We cannot let disagreements divide us. We are more alike than we are different. Each of us can start now, in our own lives, by strengthening our connections and relationships. Our individual relationships can help us live healthier, more productive, and more fulfilled lives. Make time to share a meal with a neighbor. Turn off your digital devices and really listen. Volunteer in the community. The keys to connection are simple, but extraordinarily powerful."

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield mayor lambasts divisiveness in annual address