Growing Pains in Springwood City

Growing Pains

Through the years, Springwood has added multiple neighborhoods and commercial districts. The city rented land to local industrial giants like Flatland Trees and Lower Farms. Island Hills was surpassed as the largest residential sector in the 1930s. Middleborough is the largest residential area by land size. Like Island Hills, the area hosts family housing. A visitor will see many yards and kids playing. Drive carefully around here. Middleborough, so named for being in the middle of other zones, enjoys peace and easy access to some of the city’s greatest landmarks.

Middleborough is connected directly to Back Cove, Riverside Commercial, the small district of Broad Street, and Sheffield Arts Academy. In addition, the metro connects Middleborough to the rest of the city. Middleborough was one of the last neighborhoods to rely strictly on low-density housing. From the 1930s on, high rises were sought after. An influx of newcomers occupied the skyscrapers of Back Cove and Broad Street. 

It is no surprise that these two areas saw a rise in crime during the late 1930s and early 1940s. Back Cove Police Headquarters and the barracks building in Block Small lowered the crime rate immensely. It wasn’t without sacrifice. We honor the men who protect our city at Blue Park. The city was rife with corruption for several years. Many new additions to the city were the result of bribes and blackmail. 

We see the impacts on Block Small. Though it now houses nearly 500 people, its initial function was industrial. Mobsters of the 1930s forced the zoning committee to include more room for industrial sites. They used hush money to loosen restrictions. In the 1950s, the industrial sites were dismantled, and the two solar towers were moved to new locations. After 20 years, Springwood allowed commercial and residential zoning in the area. Block Small is unlike any other sector, with many functions throughout its brief history.

Since 1950, most of the neighborhoods shot up quickly. Barely have the freshly paved roads cooled before the foundations are laid. Aspen, Central Square, and most recently, Newtown, are beacons that welcome new businesses and individuals. With long blocks of high-density, cloud-reaching skyscrapers, thousands have become Springwoodians. George Garnet could not have anticipated that much growth.

Only Hillside and Covered Way have developed with lower-density living. These communities incorporate small businesses along the avenues, while families settle on the quiet dead end streets. Both areas rest below nearby hills. Their locations are further from the high rises and the only noise come from the shops nearby. Generally, these folks commute using the metro or bus lines. Though not as well off as Beach Town, both Hillside and Covered Way are coveted for their quiet and well-planned neighborhoods. Families may find the local schools and healthcare some of the best in the city. 

Spring River

The history of Springwood would be very different if not for its affiliation with Spring River. Perhaps, Springwood would not have lasted as long as it has. Although trucking has an important role in transporting goods, the harbors near the upcoming airport handle a great amount of work. The ferry system is small, and it consists of just three stops. Still, tourists enjoy the sightseeing along the way. In 2010, the first cruise ship entered Springwood. It dropped off just fifty visitors, but it marked the beginning of a new era. 

The river will always be a major resource to Springwood. Tourism will forever be linked to the waters that flow through the city. Whether it’s fishing in Dog Mouth Park or taking the ferry from Beach Town to Riverside Commercial, Spring River serves an important role. We, also, must serve the waters. Mayors like Henry Clint and Paulina Anderson replaced aging water treatment plants with more eco-friendly variants. That’s not all we should do. Maintaining clean water will mean maintaining Springwood itself. Don’t litter and make sure you recycle that plastic, please. The men at Springwood’s Incineration Department don’t like burning it. They prefer broken-down sofas or old ice boxes.

Traffic Issues

As the city progresses, traffic is a constant concern. The major highways crisscross the city, providing access internally and regionally. Integrating access to the city and proper traffic management has been a struggle for most administrations. Peters Highway was the first connection to Springwood. The city grows daily, requiring new land. Often, the land includes other highways. Oscar Cedric and Mason-Clarke are two of the well-known freeways. 

The three highways rumble with trucks, buses, and private vehicles. Recent city managers have attempted various solutions to the noise and traffic backups. Roundabouts were attempted in the 1980s. Marie Henderson can attest that the idea was creative, if perhaps dangerous. As a new driver, she struggled with the “high-speed entrances” of the roundabouts and the “regularly shifting” number of lanes. Highway roundabouts were removed ten years ago, as planners prefer a straightforward transition from highway to six-lane avenues. 

The administration under Mayor Howard Bronson designed pedestrian paths at intersections. These proved to be effective at improving traffic flow and eliminating 86% of vehicle-pedestrian accidents. Some paths cross over the busy streets, but a few flow underneath. The tunnels were seen as scary at first. However, Bronson’s crew added lights and regular police patrols. The tunnels offer vibrant paintings and safe passage for many citizens.

Traffic management continues to hover at 80% effectiveness. Juliana Crest carries on Mayor Bronson’s work with pedestrian ways. “Why drive if you can walk,” is Ms. Crest’s motto. Pedestrian and bike paths spring up almost as often as the same advertisement on the metro about recycling plastic. Despite improved alternative transportation, the Crest administration has seen some civil unrest.