2016 was a busy year for SPAR, and for Springfield.  Our signature annual events – the Historic Springfield Tour of Homes, the July 4^thCelebration and Throwback Baseball Game, and Jacksonville PorchFest – were all bigger and better than ever, with record attendance and lots of great publicity for our community. 

We hosted preservation workshops, worked with the City and its agencies on dozens of issues, completed numerous neighborhood cleanups, and activated our parks.  We brought street light banners and a beautiful “Welcome to Springfield” mural to Main Street, supported proposed and existing businesses, and welcomed many new neighbors.

None of these activities would be possible without the support of hundreds of Springfield residents. The SPAR Board and I are deeply appreciative of each and every contribution of time and other resources. (Continued)

The Springfield Historic District neighborhood is lucky to have a number of parks within our community. A variety of park improvement and maintenance projects are now underway. Here's an update . . .

At the November 10th, 2016 annual community meeting, SPAR members will vote on candidates for our Board of Directors. The current Board of Directors is confident these four candidates would be valuable assets in helping lead the Springfield Historic District forward, are proud to present them to Membership for their approval.

If you have any questions for these candidates, please submit them prior to the annual meeting via email to the SPAR office at sparoffice@sparcouncil.org, and the candidates will provide their answers at the annual community meeting on November 10th.

Meet this year's candidates . . . 

We're happy to announce an exciting new project supporting arts and culture in our community. Work recently began on a "Welcome to Springfield" mural at 1101 N. Main Street (aka Main Space) which will serve as a bold visual key to visitors and be an iconic symbol of Springfield's support for the arts.

The mural is being installed by Grant Thornton, a Georgia-based artist, and was commissioned by SPAR with funds generated through its annual Jacksonville PorchFest. PorchFest is a free event showcasing local and regional musicians, visual artists and the beautiful architecture of Historic Springfield. The third annual Jacksonville PorchFest is Saturday, November 5th, 2016.

We're excited to partner with Florida State College of Jacksonville (FSCJ) on a photographic and historical study of the Springfield Historic District! 

Earlier this year, SPAR Council was awarded a grant to employ additional staff through the Americorps program. We're pleased to introduce Kevin O' Halloran as that new staff member, our Community Engagement Coordinator.

Click the link below to learn more about Kevin and what he'll be involved with in our community. Say "hello" if you see him around!

We're looking individuals passionate about improving and preserving the Springfield Historic District, and who would like to serve the community by offering their time or talent.

SPAR Council is now accepting applications to serve on the Board of Directors. This is a leadership position within the community, and your time and resources will be valued. Contact us if you are interested in serving on the Board and we'll send you more information. All inquiries due by September 15th. Per our organization's by-laws, new Board member applicants will be voted on by SPAR membership at the Fall community meeting.

Or, perhaps you would be more interested participating in a SPAR Committee. There are opportunities to serve on Committees related to finance, membership, special events, fund development, communications, public safety and other functions within the organization and community. If you're interested, let us know and we'll send you more information. Committee members can be considered year-round.

We'e excited to announce that SPAR Council has been awarded a grant to hire an AmeriCorps member. Click here for the full job description and contact information to apply.

The City of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville's Sheriffs Office have teamed up to address blight in the urban core neighborhoods of Jacksonville, including the greater Springfield area. JSO's Bight Abatement Team (BAT) is now coordinating with COJ's CARE system to remedy blight issues and conditions, giving residents of the urban core faster response times to reported problems.

For those not familiar, the CARE system is the City's program to eliminate blight. The CARE system can be accessed via online, telephone (904.630.CITY) or email. It can also be accessed via smart phone app, as well. 

So what kind of things can be reported as blight?

SPAR Council is excited to announce that banners celebrating the Historic Springfield community will be appearing on street lamps along Eighth and Main Streets this week.