DEAR SPRINGFIELD MAMA

A ‘vintage’ park for history lovers

Published by

Brittany Meiling

October 26, 2025

This park is perfect for parents who can admire a mossy stone wall and weathered bridges.

Fassnight Park’s stout rock walls, built into sloping hills, made me think of a rolling European countryside. Maybe that’s because the nearly 100-year-old park’s stonework was designed by a Swedish stone mason, according to a Springfield Daily Citizen history piece. Although the old park has a weathered playground in desperate need of a power wash, there are some winning elements that made my son squeal with delight.

There’s even a graffiti troll under one bridge, a fact that made my Billy-Goats-Gruff-loving child yelp and then giggle.

While this park is loaded with shaded benches and picnic tables, I found myself happily entertained by the basketball court. Why are basketball courts so rare these days?

We had brought a dodgeball-style playground ball, planning to kick it around if we got bored. Instead, I chased after my own air balls for the entire hour that Leo played on the playground.

Location

1305 S. Main Ave, Springfield

More photos

I’m Brittany

Brittany Meiling is a former newspaper reporter and editor with bylines at the Los Angeles Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, and the Springfield Daily Citizen. Now a stay-at-home mom to one spirited kid, she writes Dear Springfield Mama to help local mothers feel more grounded, connected, and in the know. She’s traded newsroom deadlines for nature walks, budget grocery runs, and chasing beauty in the middle of it all.