Mission Statement

The Springfield-Greene County Park Board strives to provide the very best in parks and recreation facilities, programs, events, and services to our community. In doing so, we will make a positive impact on the overall quality of life, health, environmental, social, and economic aspects for our resident families and visitors alike.

About Us

The Springfield-Greene County Park Board coordinates programs, facilities and events at 105 park sites, ranging from neighborhood playgrounds to multi-use recreational facilities to natural resource areas. The 3,200-acre system includes four golf courses, three family centers, a zoo, a farm park, botanical gardens, several sports and athletic complexes, two indoor aquatics centers, six outdoor swimming pools, multiple School-Park sites and more than 100 miles of recreational trails — including 70+ miles of Greenways.

Each year, parks facilities host more than 50 national, regional, state and local tournaments in softball, baseball, soccer, hockey, tennis, volleyball and golf, generating an estimated $13-15 million annually for the local economy.

The Greater Springfield Community Sports Development Program (CSDP) provides training and development to about 600 athletes a year in the sports of Archery, Ice Hockey, Tennis and Volleyball. Established in 2003 as part of the US Olympic Committee’s former Community Olympic Development Program, the program is overseen by a volunteer board and administered through a partnership with the Springfield-Greene County Park Board, which provides coaches, equipment and facilities.

The Park Board owns and operates the Springfield Lasers professional tennis franchise, winners of the 2018 World TeamTennis Championship. The team has been based in Springfield since its establishment in 1996.

The Park Board was established in 1913 and marks its centennial in 2013, celebrating 100+ years of development and stewardship of our community's parks and recreation opportunities.

Accreditation through CAPRA

The Springfield-Greene County Park Board received full accreditation from the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA), a division of the National Recreation and Park Association, in 2016. Accreditation was renewed in 2021, and is valid for five years.

The Park Board is one of only 192 CAPRA-accredited agencies, representing fewer than two percent of parks and recreation organizations in the US. 

The CAPRA accreditation team noted the Park Board’s 100+ year history, its 2000 NRPA Gold Medal Award, its diverse and varied system, its leadership in sports tourism, its Community Sports Development Program, and above all, its community involvement and numerous partnerships as elements that stand out among peer agencies.