Tyson Park closes for major redevelopment in Springfield through October

Tyson Park is now closed to the public as Willamalane starts a major rebuild at the 4-acre park on 3405 E Street in central Springfield. Crews are expected to work from June through October 2026, and the district says the site will stay fully closed for safety while construction is underway.

That shutdown is the immediate cost for Springfield families who use the park now: for the rest of summer and into early fall, there will be no access to the playground, basketball court, soccer open-play area, picnic shelter or running path that are planned for replacement. The payoff comes later in a much larger redesign, with a new playground, basketball court, soccer open-play area, covered picnic shelter, community garden, sidewalks, a wood-chip running path and a drinking fountain all included in the project.

Willamalane identified Tyson Park as a high-priority redevelopment site in its 2023 Comprehensive Plan because the existing play features and amenities had become outdated and were in poor condition. The plan, adopted by the board in September 2023, is meant to guide parks and recreation decisions for the next 20 years and drew input from more than 3,800 community members. Tyson Park’s central location, near several Springfield Public Schools sites, gives the project added weight because it is the only park serving that area.

The park’s rebuild has been shaped by more than just a wish list of new features. Community input came in February and March 2024, a neighborhood meeting was held Dec. 16, 2025, and construction bidding took place in April 2026. Willamalane also moved the project through land-use review and updated permitting with the City of Springfield, adding emergency access routes to meet updated code requirements.

Funding is coming almost entirely from outside the district’s general budget. Willamalane says the project is being paid for with nearly $700,000 in grants, a $200,000 gift from the Willamalane Park Foundation and system development charges. That mix reflects a long-term investment in a small but important neighborhood park rather than a cosmetic refresh.

Tyson Park itself has deep roots in Springfield. The property was acquired in 1961, the park was built in 1963 and expanded in the 1970s. It is named for Mabel Tyson, an early Willamalane volunteer who helped with office duties, outreach and registration and was later recognized as Springfield’s Woman of the Year.