Four Springfield neighborhoods were awarded the Neat Neighborhood title at the annual Neighborhood Organization Volunteer Awards (NOVA) hosted Dec. 3 by Community Partnership of the Ozarks.
Title winners were:
- Zone 1 First Place: Woodland Heights Neighborhood Association
- Zone 2 First Place: Rountree Neighborhood Association
- Zone 3 First Place: Greater Parkcrest Neighborhood Association
- Zone 4 First Place: Galloway Village Neighborhood Association.
Title winners received $6,000 from the Hatch Foundation for the purpose of neighborhood improvement. In addition to the title winners, second and third-place honors were selected in each of the four City Council zones, with $3,000 and $1,000 donated to each of the registered neighborhood organizations placing in those categories. CPO provided $500 to neighborhoods participating, but not placing.
Zone 1
Second Place: Bissett Neighborhood Association
Third Place: Westside Neighborhood Betterment Association
Shining Star Award: (provided by CPO): Grant Beach Neighborhood Association
Zone 2
Second Place: Oak Grove Neighborhood Association
Third Place: Delaware Neighborhood Association
Zone 3
Second Place: Phelps Neighborhood Association
Third Place: West Central Neighborhood Alliance
Zone 4
Second Place: Bradford Park Neighborhood Association
Third Place: Brentwood Neighborhood Association
Shining Star Award (provided by CPO): Seminole-Holland Neighborhood Association
Judges included representatives from registered neighborhoods and the Hatch Foundation. Registration opened May 1, 2024, but judges considered projects and enhancements that took place between Jan. 1 and Sept. 1. Judging categories included: planning and involvement, public places/roads, streets and alleys, green spaces and tidiness and litter control.
The Hatch Foundation, in partnership with the City of Springfield and the Neighborhood Advisory Council, launched the friendly neighborhood competition in 2024 to incentivize and recognize neighborhoods who go above and beyond in the areas of civic engagement, tidiness and beautification. The program is patterned after Tidy Towns, a tradition rooted in Ireland since 1958. This community challenge found its way to Springfield, thanks to community mobilizer Erin Danastasio and the Hatch Foundation.
Looking back at early 2021, the City of Springfield and community partners faced a challenge—comments and complaints were flooding in about the increasing amount of trash along roads and in neighborhoods.
“Maybe it was the pandemic or a collective surge of community spirit, but there was an unmistakable energy—a shared eagerness to get involved, be active, and create a positive impact,” said Cora Scott, the City’s director of Public Information and Civic Engagement. “As we launched the new Neat Neighborhoods competition, the spirit of Clean Green Springfield, born from collaboration and a shared commitment to positive change, became a key player in our quest for a tidy town. It’s not just about tidying up; it’s about leaving a lasting impression and being proud of your neighborhood.”