Woodland Heights Neighborhood, Between Commercial Street and Kearney and Washington to Kansas Exp, Springfield, MO (2026)

Located one block of the Historic C-Street district, the Woodland Heights neighborhood began when Edwin T. Boyd formed the Ozark Land Company. These men speculatively purchased the property around and north of Commercial Street. With the incentives of land donations and profits from the sale of platted land, they were instrumental in the Pacific and Atlantic Railroad decision to locate their line one mile north of Springfield. From this the new town of North Springfield was created. The eastern part of the Woodland Heights neighborhood was included in the initial plat of North Springfield in 1870. The neighborhood name is derived from the Woodland Heights Subdivision, which was platted after consolidation of Springfield and North Springfield in late 1880's. Included in the 1870 plat of North Springfield was one of Springfield's first two city parks. Lafayette Park was originally platted as public square, possibly to compete with the Old Town;s public square during the North Springfield era. In the early years Lafayette sported a bandstand for weekend and summer activities and was encircled by a fence to keep cattle out. In 1907 the Jefferson Avenue footbridge was build, connecting Woodland Heights to the Commercial Street business district....see the document entitled Jefferson Ave Footbridge for more information. Another interesting aspect of Woodland Heights history was the location of the Frisco Hospital on Atlantic between Broadway and Missouri Avenues. The hospital served as emergency and care facilities for Frisco employees and was first operated by the Sisters of Charity in 1901 and later from 1904 to 1922, by the Sisters of Mercy. Woodland Heights was home to a number of merchants, railroad employees and business professionals. One of the early residences in the neighborhood was built by a Springfield attorney Azariah W. Lincoln and his wife, Jennie Margaret Adams, both descendants of former US Presidents. Mrs Lincoln is credited with founding the Northside Boys Club. Their stately Queen Anne Victorian home was constructed in 1887 and stands today at 2006 N. Douglas as a reminder of a grand era.

10/16/2026

Woodland Heights Neighborhood was recently recognized as one of Missouri’s Most Neighborly Neighborhoods as part of Missouri Good Neighbor Week, Sept. 28-Oct. 4. 🏆

In Woodland Heights, neighboring happens naturally and consistently. The neighborhood also has a very active neighborhood association and involved board members.

Residents help one another with snow removal, groceries, childcare, food, home watching and emergencies. After a major storm, neighbors worked together to clear debris. When one resident was hospitalized and was not expected to return home, neighbors cleared a fence row so they could better watch over the vacant property.

“These neighborhoods remind us that strong communities don't begin at city hall or in a meeting room. They begin when someone walks across the street, learns a name, notices a need and chooses to help,” said David Burton, community development specialist with University of Missouri Extension and founder of Missouri Good Neighbor Week. “That is what being an engaged neighbor looks like, and it is worth celebrating.”

Please join us in congratulating Woodland Heights. 👏🏻

Learn more about Missouri Good Neighbor Week at https://missourigoodneighborweek.org/.

10/15/2026

The Bass Pro Conservation Marathon is a real circus.

How often do you get to have fun, make others happy, and help your neighborhood?

Come join us on Sunday, November 1st as we represent the neighborhood at the Bass Pro Conservation Marathon. Every year Springfield’s neighborhoods are asked to choose a theme and come out and cheer on the race runners. While the runners compete in the race, the neighborhoods compete for cash prizes and to be declared the best cheer section. Over the years prize winnings from the competition have helped WHNA to fund all sorts of civic efforts and events.

For the last 4 years we have been The Woodland Heights Circus at the event. We are the last cheering neighborhood on the course, and we have encouraged many-a-tired runner to not give up and to finish strong.

Each of those years we have won a cash prize which is used to help improve OUR neighborhood. In addition to the cash prize, the runners tell us we are their favorite neighborhood, that they look forward to seeing us, and we make them happy.

We have tents, we have clowns, we have circus music, we have a strong man, we have a fortune teller. What we don't have is YOU.

This event does require a commitment. Rain or Shine. Hot or cold.

While set up starts around 5:30 AM, the first runners arrive at our position around 7:00 AM, and we are out yelling and cheering till the last runner comes by (usually 1:00 PM-ish). You don't have to commit to the whole event. (But we would like that.) We do need 10 volunteers on site at all times. We need YOU!

So, you've always wanted to run off to join the circus? You have that lion tamer costume and nowhere to wear it? Your inner clown is sad and bored? You miss the trapeze? Come out and help the runners make it to the end and help your neighborhood.

Please contact Chris Perry if you are interested ([email protected]).

Some clown costumes are available for loan.

10/13/2026

10/11/2026

Join us tonight ( Sunday, October 11th) at 7:00 PM at 1875 N BoonVille Ave for a free outdoor screening of La bohème.

"Join the Woodland Heights Neighborhood Association this October for Opera-tober in Woodland Heights, a month-long series of free screenings of classic Operas! Have you always been interested in Opera but never taken the plunge?! Now’s your chance to experience a new artistic world as only the scrappiest little neighborhood on the north side of Springfield, MO could present it to you!

Our Opera-tober series begins on October 11th outdoors in the driveway of 1875 N Boonville Ave at 7:00 PM with a screening of Puccini’s La bohème! We absolutely defy you to find a more Bohemian way to experience Puccini than by watching a production of this beautiful opera projected outdoors in a neighborhood driveway.

Welcome to the artistic side of the tracks! Welcome to Bohemia!

We’ll also provide snacks.

After this initial night of opera, we’ll move our screenings to the Charlie Norr Community Center (316 W Atlantic St) for October 16th, October 25th and October 30th. More details concerning titles to be screened to follow! Stay tuned for details! Are you as excited for Opera-tober as we are?

La bohème synopsis: "A group of young artists in Paris. Their friendships and dreams are shaped by love, poverty, and the hardship of everyday existence. The romance between the poet Rodolfo and Mimì unfolds alongside the lively relationships of a close-knit circle of friends. As their lives become increasingly complicated, will their love and friendship stand firm?"

Sung in Italian with English subtitles.

*Our Opera-tober celebration is made possible by our friends at OperaVision, who generously granted us permission to provide free public screenings of their productions. OperaVision is co-funded by the European Union through the Creative Europe program. We extend our sincere gratitude to our European friends for their generosity and kindness."

Address

Between Commercial Street And Kearney And Washington To Kansas Exp
Springfield, MO
65803

Website

https://woodlandheightsneighborhood.org/

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