Residents 'very proud of the Thurston area'
SPRINGFIELD, Ore. - The Thurston neighborhood of east Springfield is home to a thriving commercial area and at least six parks, but it almost didn't become a part of Springfield.
"Thurston residents tend to be quite provincial. They are very proud of the Thurston area," says City Councilman Joe Pishioneri.
Thurston was a seperate enclave, its own community until 1960. That's when annexation hit the ballot. It barely passed, and you talk about a brouhaha.
Community Development Manager John Tamulonis says the margin was only "3 or 4 votes -- and it was controversial because there were people that had voted that had not been registered. There was all kinds of controversy about this."
The courts however ruled the election was valid. Springfield doubled in size, and the rest is history.
Thurston is a big piece of the engine that drives the Springfield economy. Councilman Pishioneri says to look at the Albertson's commercial center on Highway 126.
"All those businesses are vibrant and there's nothing closed, so I'm not sure why this area has been blessed with activity like that," explains Pishioneri.
Tamulonis tells KVAL News the next part of the Thurston area poised for growth is along the Bob Straub Parkway southbound as it leads out to the Jasper-Natron area.
"It's opening up residential and industrial and maybe some commercial development in the Jasper-Natron area," he says.
Six parks within a 20 block radius also helps the Thurston quality of life.
Pishioneri's main concern is Main Street and an ODOT study to find pedestrian safety solutions.
The rest Thurston keeps to itself.
"Thurston has got a lot of secrets that I'm confident that not everybody knows about," Pishioneri.
You might say that's provincial, but residents would call it Thurston pride.
The Thurston neighborhood is just one of the ten communities you can follow and even contribute to on our KVAL Community Web sites.
