Missouri State University
EN-9: Community Partnerships

We are members of the Partnership for Sustainability (P4S), a community sustainability group which works collaboratively toward advancing practices that establish the Ozarks as a center of excellence in sustainability. Recognizing long-term success depends upon ensuring a profitable, healthy and resource-rich tomorrow, the P4S brings together business, non-profit, and governmental organizations to promote balanced decisions based upon environmental, social, and economic considerations. To enact this vision, we provide information, expertise, and resources to facilitate sustainable decision-making and ease the implementation of sustainable practices by organizations throughout the Ozarks. We also work together on projects that foster community-scale sustainable development. http://www.springfieldchamber.com/about_us/pledge_for_sustainabilitiy/partnership_for_sustainability_members/ We provide office space for the James River Basin Partnership and National Park Service which are important partnerships related to sustainability. We have community members on the university's Sustainability Advisory Committee and sub-committees.

In 2014, Missouri State University and Watershed Committee of the Ozarks completed the construction of a rainwater collection system at the MSU William H. Darr Agricultural Center. This project is part of the Big Urbie stormwater grant to improve water quality and reduce stormwater runoff. The rainwater collection system can capture 20,000 gallons of water from the roof of Pinegar Arena to store in underground tanks. The water is used for dust suppression inside the arena. Rainwater harvesting reduces the amount of runoff and conserves drinking water. “The water reclamation project at the Darr Agricultural Center is the result of tireless efforts by many groups,” added Dr. Anson Elliott, head of the Darr School of Agriculture at Missouri State University. “It now serves in meeting the tangible goal of saving water at the Center but also for meaningful educational programs.” This is one of many projects funded by the Springfield-Greene County Urban Watershed Stewardship Project (nicknamed Big Urbie), a $1.1 million federal grant awarded to Watershed Committee of the Ozarks in 2011 by U.S. EPA Region 7 through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources under section 319 of the Clean Water Act. Learn more about the project at www.bigurbie.org Missouri State's Campus Construction Team served as the general contractor with engineering services provided by Geosyntec Consultants. The 10 polyethylene underground tanks were supplied by Free Water Systems. Matching funds and in-kind assistance was provided by The Sustainability Commission of the Missouri State University Student Government Association, and grant partners the City of Springfield Stormwater Engineering Division, Greene County Resource Management.

The Walkable Springfield Project is a collaborative partnership between the Healthy Living Alliance (HLA), the City of Springfield, the Springfield-Greene County Health Department, Missouri State University, Springfield Public Schools, and the League of Women Voters. In the fall of 2013, over 400 service-learning students engaged in the assessment and evaluation of hundreds of streets in some 12 Springfield neighborhoods. Their findings will lay the foundation for and promote on-going dialogue with city officials and the community at large as to how best improve the streets and neighborhoods of the Springfield community. Here is a description of the project: What does it mean to be walkable? Good sidewalks Safe streets Slow traffic Healthy residents Knowing your neighbors Local businesses Destinations to walk to The Walkable Neighborhood Project aims to build thriving communities here in Springfield. But first we have to find out what our neighborhoods need to be strong and vital. We are doing this 3 ways: Missouri State University students and other volunteers are assessing each neighborhood street by street to gather baseline information regarding sidewalks, streets, land uses, and general quality of the environment Residents are encouraged to participate by sharing ideas to make their neighborhoods more walkable High school students will take pictures in their neighborhoods and then caption the photos in a way that advocates for walkability What have we done so far? Attended 16 neighborhood and community events Reached over 2,500 attendees Received 893 suggestions from residents Assessed 2,225 street segments in 11 neighborhoods How can you help? Make a suggestion Attend Walkable Neighborhood Project events Support activities to make your neighborhood more walkable What’s next? We will present a report to city and community leaders in Spring 2014 We will identify ways to make our neighborhoods more walkable

http://www.missouristate.edu/Sustainability/AdvisoryCommittee.htm http://bigurbie.org/pdfs/Big%20Urbie_DarrPressRelease_Nov18th.pdf http://hlaspringfield.org/the-walkable-neighborhood-project/ http://www.swmocounts.org/index.php?module=InitiativeCenters&func=display&icid=9