The first of nearly 100 wayfinding signs in the city of Springfield was installed Thursday near the Springfield-Branson National Airport.

Modern Neon of Nixa installed the first sign on the west side of Airport Boulevard, just south of the traffic roundabout.

This installation of the signage system is intended to guide travelers leaving the Airport to all three of the districts represented – the Battlefield/Glenstone retail corridor; the Bass Pro retail area; and the downtown Springfield area.

The Springfield Wayfinding Program is intended to be a tool to increase awareness of major Springfield destinations and retail areas, identify parking options, and cross promote these attractions to visitors.

The program, funded by the quarter-cent sales tax for capital improvements, includes directional signage to high-traffic venues and attractions. The cost for design, fabrication and installation is $604,806.


The wayfinding system was designed to guide travelers along the City’s largest retail corridors past more businesses than just those in the specific corridors around Glenstone and Battlefield and the Bass Pro area.

“This is a very effective and common program in cities that host a significant number of visitors as Springfield does for special events, conventions and sports events,” said Tracy Kimberlin, President of the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau.

This program includes 97 signs starting at the gateways to Springfield from U.S. 65, Missouri 13 and the James River Freeway and continuing into the city. It also includes 15 information kiosks for pedestrians at entry points to the downtown and Commercial Street areas.

Installation of the signs is expected to be complete by early April.

The signs came under scrutiny in February 2009 in the wake of problems with the city's police-fire pension fund. Then-Councilman Denny Whayne asked the council to re-consider the expense. Council members decided to proceed to fulfill the obligation the city made when voters approved the capital improvements tax.