For the past year, I’ve spent a lot of time in Springfield’s parks, walking them, writing about them, bringing my son along and wondering about their emptiness.

The more I’ve learned, the harder it’s been to ignore the difference between what these spaces are now… and what they used to be.

There was a time when our parks were full of life. There were bandstands, skating rinks, carnivals - places designed for gathering.

True third places.

In this episode, I share some of that history, but also some modern ideas, both here and in other cities, and what it might look like to bring some of that life back.

This is part reflection, part invitation to do something about it!