Founders Park

Founders Park is a 0.84-acre urban park located at the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Water Street in downtown Springfield, Missouri. The park sits on a historically significant site where Springfield's founding father, John Polk Campbell, staked his claim to homestead in 1829.

Designed to resemble a historic quarry, Founders Park incorporates elements that pay tribute to Springfield's early history. The park features a 250-seat amphitheater with an 18-foot by 30-foot stage, which is wired for sound and light equipment. This amphitheater serves as a venue for various community events, including summer movie screenings.

One of the park's notable features is a recreation of the original spring used by the city's founders near the site. The park also includes an upland woods area depicting the natural hardwood forest that once existed in the region. A 10-foot by 120-foot historical mural illustrates the first 100 years of Springfield's citizens, buildings, and local historical events.

Visitors to Founders Park can explore a historical timeline that describes Springfield's growth during its first century and how national and international events influenced the city's development. The park also showcases an area dedicated to native prairie grasses, reminiscent of the nearby Kickapoo Prairie that existed in the area's early days.

Founders Park serves as an educational and recreational space, offering residents and visitors a glimpse into Springfield's past while providing a pleasant urban green space for relaxation and community gatherings.