At the Aug. 6 Springfield City Council meeting, resident Lisa Irving of Harvard Park (Ward 2) asked the council to reconsider local rules that she said prohibit planting on city boulevards.
"I'm asking that we please reconsider, amending these codes to allow for the planting of fruit trees or fruit plants and vegetables on our boulevards," Irving said during the public-comment period. She told the council she was told by city staff that planting on boulevards was not allowed "due to possible erosion and potential for wild animals." Irving said she does not believe these concerns apply to small household gardens and argued boulevard gardens would aid native pollinators and improve residents' quality of life.
Irving said she moved from a larger lot to a 5,000‑square‑foot lot in Harvard Park and that limited yard space had forced neighbors to abandon larger gardens. She also told the council that residents are required to maintain boulevards and face fines for neglect, which she said is unfair if residents are not allowed discretion over plantings.
Alderman Conley later told Irving that some residents were watching the meeting and that the council's broadcast was available on at least one channel, but the council did not take votes, direct staff, or introduce an ordinance on the record regarding boulevard planting at the Aug. 6 session.
Irving asked the council to amend the code to allow fruit trees, edible plants and vegetables on boulevards and to relieve residents from fines if the city does not permit such plantings.
The meeting record contains no staff response detailing which city code section governs boulevard plantings or any timeline the council would use to consider a code change.