The Springfield City Council spent a big chunk of this meeting wrestling with what it really means to invest in Black history — not just with words, but with dollars.
Tourism staff rolled out the new History Beyond the Tracks initiative, a citywide plan to link together key African American heritage sites on the east side — from the Lincoln Colored Home to historic fire and education sites — into a cohesive visitor experience. Council members then pressed for concrete next steps: fencing that matches the Lincoln Home, wayfinding signs like Route 66, visible site improvements and a commitment that this doesn’t become another plan that sits on a shelf.
One alderperson pushed to make this a budget priority, arguing the city needs “skin in the game” and should match the energy and funding it puts into Route 66, the Armory, and other tourism draws. Tourism leaders zoomed out further, talking about tying Springfield’s Black history story to the coming 1908 Race Riot National Monument, Route 66 traffic, the FIFA World Cup, and even the Obama Presidential Library.
Then public comment turned sharp. A resident blasted the council for spending 35 minutes arguing over a $3,000 item while approving much larger deals, calling the “slippery slope” arguments embarrassing and accusing the city of failing poor and Black residents.
If you care about how Springfield tells its Black history story — and whether the city budget will back it up — this one is worth your time.
