What’s Galloway Anyway?
According to The State Historical Society of Missouri, the neighborhood of Galloway, Missouri was named after a Major from the Union Army. (You can look at the history behind the names of all sorts of Missouri places here! https://web.archive.org/web/20160624071559/http://shsmo.org/manuscripts/ramsay/ramsay_greene.html)
This little neighborhood was once a central hub for travel by train, but now serves as a developing community occupied by residential and commercial spots alike. However, train tracks still run through Galloway, but are mostly there for aesthetic now. The old train station hasn’t gone to waste, the ever popular Galloway Grill now inhabits the historic buildings and serves draft beer and great sandwiches.
Though Galloway is located in Southeast Springfield, the community is often referred to as it’s own little town, and it most certainly feels that way. Galloway once had it’s own post office back in the late 1800’s, but it’s annexation in Springfield no longer necessitated it’s own postal center. However, boutiques, yoga studios, churches, and swanky town homes are quickly making up for the lost feature.
Although Galloway is expanding quickly, the neighborhood has been able to maintain it’s quaint charm largely in part to it’s efforts in preserving the nature surrounding the neighborhood, including maintenance of one of Galloway’s main features, Sequiota park. The park is a go-to place for a Saturday stroll, jog, dog walk, kid friendly activities, and nature hiking and photography. It is not unusual to see families or couples getting photos taken in areas in and around the park. With the bustling streets of Southeast Springfield only a mile away, Galloway serves as a mini get-away from the city and a perfect place to spend a day doing nothing laying in a hammock in the park, or doing everything on the strip that runs through town.
Galloway’s (and Springfield’s!) Favorite Spot: : Sequiota Park
When you hear the name “Galloway, Missouri,” it may not ring a bell, however, if you ask a Springfieldian, or a 417 area native in general, where Sequiota Park is, they’re very likely to know exactly where you’re talking about it. Becoming a part of the Springfield park system in 1959, Sequiota has served as the perfect leisure destination for all ages and activity levels. The park offers playground equipment for little ones, biking and running paths for active ones, and scenic views and seating for everyone!
Sequiota is notable for it’s gorgeous caves and miniature waterfalls, however, the caves are only accessible during official cave tours (which are currently not being offered until further notice.) There is a population of endangered gray bats that live in Sequiota’s caves, and limiting their exposure to human germs is the main reason for the caves remaining off limits, although most locals can tell you they have poked their heads in at least once (and by poke, they mean traversing inside the entrance by at least 100 feet!)
More social wildlife in the area are the park’s duck and geese residents that are infamous for begging for food. In the last couple of years, Sequiota has followed suit alongside Springfield’s Nathaniel Greene Park and have posted multiple signs urging park goers to refrain from feeding the water fowl bread, french fries, and other “table food.” It is acceptable to feed the feathered friends (or foes- if you encounter an ill-tempered goose all too common to the park) oats or seeds. Not feeding the wildlife at all is your best bet, but some of the fowl are very good at their occupation and are just too cute not to toss a few scraps to.
During favorable weather, a pavilion or grassy spot is great for a picnic or small gathering. Many locals set up shop at one of Sequiota’s pavilions for birthday parties or cook outs. If you are of a higher activity level, a trail wrapping all the way around the park and even up into an Ozark hill provides an intermediate level hiking/walking trail. If you are a next level adventurer, the park technically allows you to climb the steep rock facade that cascades over the hill behind the cave, but at your own risk. It’s worth a try at least once, but not after it rains, for the surface is sure to have your feet slip.
The next time you’re in the Galloway area, Sequiota is not a place to miss, especially if you have company visiting from out of town. It’s a gorgeous local gem to show off, plus, the park is bound to have something for everyone!
Taggers, Scrappers, and Travelers: Galloway’s Crime Report
Since the addition of Galloway’s Township 28 town home development, the area has been seeing more traffic, which means more witnesses to any potential crimes that may committed within the neighborhood. According to Spot Crime’s website (https://kspr.spotcrime.info/) just in the last week, (week starting on April 29th) Galloway hasn’t seen much action besides an unspecified arrest, some vandalism at the rock quarry (which is very common there) and a reported assault at the park. Overall, Galloway sees a lot less crime than other neighborhoods, like North Springfield, for instance. However, “travelers” have been an issue for the Galloway neighborhood for years, even up until after they started breaking ground for Township 28.
Nathan Russell is a 417 native and often hikes with friends at Sequiota park. A couple of Summers ago, he was at the park, not for hiking, but while he was serving as a photography assistant for a photo shoot his girlfriend was directing.
“That was the first time my car was broken into, ever,” recalls Russell. “I’ve parked in some shady areas before, especially in Branson where I feel like people from Merriam Woods and Rockaway Beach are prone to hang out and try and steal from tourists. And even then, I’ve never had too many issues.”
Russell’s passenger side window was busted and his glovebox searched. Luckily, the perps only got away with an empty messenger bag containing an old mp3 player and some odds and ends.
Russell works in construction and, luckily, had some equipment in the back of his SUV that went untouched. “It really could have been worse,” said Russell. “I could have been out at least a grand had those tools gone missing.”
Users on the r/springfieldmo page on www.reddit.com have often complained about suspicious people wandering the train tracks, and after Russell posted on the website about his incident, several replies affirmed Russell’s suspicion that the thieves saw an opportunity and “were just passing through.”
Despite occasional break ins, unsolicited art work, and confrontations at the park, Galloway remains a relatively safe area, which is definitely part of it’s appeal.
Galloway’s Growth Spurt
Galloway has been growing considerably for an amount of years, bolstered recently by commercial additions such as Great Escape Beer Works and Mostly Serious Digital Marketing Agency, but the most intriguing of the newer additions may just be Township 28, a semi-luxury town home style living space. Oak Star bank funded the project when it broke ground in 2014 and was finally up and running in late 2016. Managed by TLC properties, Township 28 offers six different floor plans and is less than a quarter mile away from Sequiota park. The complex is within walking distance of all of Galloway’s other amenities, making it a good choice for active singles, couples, or small families. The complex also allows pets, so if you’re planning on taking Rover down the street to the park for his daily walk, he’ll love this location just as much as you do.
While Township 28 has a swanky, modern design and great amenities, there may be a few down sides. For one, Galloway is booming and showing no sign of slowing down. So while the area may be more on the quiet side currently, it will probably not remain that way forever. Also, with Galloway Grill and Escape Beer Works gaining in popularity, there will be people drinking in your nearby vicinity, so if that causes concern for you, that may be something to consider. Also, there have been recent reports from residents that are a surprisingly low amount of security cameras around the complex, and if you’ve read my previous post, “travelers” can still be seen walking along the train tracks, even in broad daylight, so that may also be a concern.
Besides Township 28, there have been talks of further development in the area. Developer Matt O’Reilly had pitched his “Quarry Town” project to Springfield City Council back in 2016. His firm, Green Circles, set out to create an environmentally friendly installation for residential, retail, and office space. Where Escape Beer Works is located is the beginning of said project, with several spaces around it still yet to be occupied by new businesses.
Concept Renderings of what Quarry Town may eventually look like
If one thing is for sure it’s this: Galloway is growing, and it’s growing fast. Springfieldians feeling trapped by a bustling Battlefield road or slow moving Sunshine street may feel a call to relocate a little further outside of town. Neighborhoods like Galloway that are close to the heartbeat of the city, while still feeling like an escape; proves to be an appealing option.
Township 28: https://www.township28.com/
Evangel News Reporting 