Community Partnership of the Ozarks and sponsor Air Services Heating & Cooling hosted the 17th annual Neighborhood Organization Volunteer Awards (NOVA) ceremony, Dec. 4, 2023 at The Barley House at Moon Town Crossing to recognize and reward outstanding neighborhood volunteers who work tirelessly to improve and revitalize their communities.
A nova is a brightly shining star. CPO feels organizations and individuals who tirelessly work at making our community a better place to live should be recognized as stars. The annual NOVAs banquet allows us to reflect on the achievements and contributions made by dedicated people in our community. The NOVAs banquet is a highlight of our year and we truly enjoy the opportunity to celebrate those who may go unnoticed for all they do in and for our neighborhoods.
Reaching for the Stars Award
The Reaching for the Stars Award is an annual award given to a person, organization, or partner that has had a particularly large and profound impact on the neighborhoods throughout the past year.
The 2023 Reaching for the Stars Award went to the University of Missouri Extension – Greene County for the Good Neighbor Week celebration in Springfield.
Collaboration Award
This year, CPO introduced a new award at the NOVAs – the Collaboration Award. This award went to SGF Kickball.
Individual NOVAs
Bissett: Darin DeSilva
Bradford Park: Rex Johnson
Brentwood: Brent Rinker
Delaware: Ray Burmood
Doling: Noah Huskey
Fassnight: Nathan Cook
Galloway Village: Galloway Baptist Church
Grant Beach: Quinten Kyle
Greater Parkcrest: Libby Wiseman
Heart of the Westside: Billy Cockrum
Mark Twain: Samantha Spartan
Midtown: Ranald Ives
Oak Grove: David Ogan
Phelps Grove: Fran and Jim Giglio
Robberson: Mary Ann and Greg Bonetti
Rountree: Haden Long
Seminole Holland: David Siewert
Tom Watkins: Marla Cantwell
West Central: Patricia DeWitt
Westside: Erica Robertson
Woodland Heights: Natalie and Curtis Batchelor.
Bass Pro Marathon Neighborhood Challenge awards
Concluding the evening were the Great Neighborhoods grants to neighborhoods and the Bass Pro Marathon cheering sections awards. Bass Pro awarded a total of $11,000 this year.
“On behalf of Bass Pro, thank you to those who were able to participate in the cheering challenge. They report that they got great feedback from runners and having you all at the event cheering your hearts out was a true gift,” Ash said.
Delaware won first place and took home $1,100 in the cheering section competition. Mark Twain and Woodland Heights tied for second and took home $950. Galloway Village took third and $900. Oak Grove came in fourth and took home $750. Not far behind was Meador Park, which won fifth and $700. Brentwood, Seminole Holland and Rountree tied for sixth and took home $650. Placing seventh and taking home $600 was Robberson. Westside and University Heights placed eighth and took home $550. West Central, Bissett, Midtown and Weller tied for ninth and were awarded $500.
Great Neighborhoods grants
The City’s Planning & Development department awarded $8,750 in Great Neighborhoods grants to 13 neighborhoods in recognition of their efforts in 2023.
Neighborhoods who earned 18 points and $750 were:
- Brentwood Neighborhood Association
- West Central Neighborhood Association
- Galloway Village Neighborhood Association
- Robberson Neighborhood Association
- Bradford Park Neighborhood Association
- Phelps Neighborhood Association
- Bissett Neighborhood Association
- Meador Park Neighborhood Association
- Woodland Heights Neighborhood Association.
Those who earned nine points and $500 were:
- Seminole Holland Neighborhood Association
- Greater Parkcrest Neighborhood Association
- Tom Watkins Neighborhood Association
- Westside Neighborhood Betterment Association.
The Great Neighborhoods program encourages clean, safe, and friendly neighborhoods through activities and programs that develop relationships between neighbors and their neighborhood association. This is a voluntary program where registered neighborhoods can participate and earn points toward designation as a City of Springfield Great Neighborhood, along with grant money to be used toward a neighborhood program or activity.
Points can be earned in the three categories that define Great Neighborhoods: clean, safe, and friendly. Neighborhoods are scored and ranked based on the information in their application as well as their effort to follow the four principles of the Great Neighborhoods program:
- Residents must lead the process.
- A long-term commitment is expected.
- All neighbors interested in participating must be included.
- Continual activities that engage everyone in the neighborhood.
Neighborhoods can earn up to:
- $500 – 9 points (at least 3 points in each category)
- $750 – 18 points (at least 6 points in each category)
- $1,000* – 18 points (at least 6 points in each category) * requires a $250 match.