It’s an initiative that’s proactive, not reactive. Those are the words of the City of Springfield Communications Director Haley Wilson on the new BUILD program that aims to beautify a 55-block area around Bunn Field at 1300 East Division. On the WTAX Morning Newswatch, Wilson said they chose the neighborhood based on two sets of data.  The first from the police department’s Shot Spotter reports, which is an indicator of crime in the area.  The second was from public works information on problem properties, code violations, and increased incidents of fly dumping.

CWLP and public works crews will lead the cleanup effort on October 7th, while other organizations provide services to residents and city workers go door-to-door to get feedback on neighborhood concerns.  Wilson said similar initiatives in other major cities have been successful at creating economic development.  She credits Bloomberg Harvard Fellow Sai Joshi with bringing the idea forward and said Joshi has worked closely with the Springfield Police Department and the mayor’s office to launch the initiative.