maintaining community character amid progress. “Wholeheartedly we have a really good community base here...You go to the store and you see people you know, there’s a reason people are staying,” she shares. This balance of growth and identity informs all planning, from the upcoming police complex to neighborhood preservation.“We are a city,” Reichelt acknowledges, “but we are a small town still.” A CITY BUILT FOR WHAT’S NEXT West Springfield proves that exceptional quality of life isn’t measured in square miles. This compact city delivers big-city amenities, from wilderness preserves to thriving commercial corridors, while maintaining its small-town character. Forwardthinking investments in infrastructure, education, and community spaces demonstrate leadership’s commitment to sustainable growth. “You can live in a community that has all those small town things that you would want, while everything’s five minutes away. We’re kind of spoiled in that sense where everything’s close by, you don’t really have to leave town for much,” Reichelt shares. With its strategic location, cultural assets like The Big E, and balanced approach to development, West Springfield offers a model for how communities can evolve while preserving what makes them special. 229 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 05 WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA
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