Lessons from the City of Springfield’s East Sunshine Corridor design charrette.
Jan 2026
When the City of Springfield set out to reimagine East Sunshine Street, Public Works Project Manager King Coltrin knew a traditional public meeting wouldn’t cut it. “We wanted people to do more than fill out a comment card,” he says. “We wanted them to experience the trade-offs for themselves.”
So, instead of a one-way presentation, Coltrin and his team hosted a design charrette—a hands-on workshop that let residents help design the corridor. The process sparked deeper engagement and better feedback. Here’s how business leaders can apply the same principles to win genuine buy-in from employees or clients.
At the charrette, participants used puzzle pieces to design Sunshine Street—deciding how much space to give to lanes, trails, sidewalks and greenspaces. According to Coltrin, when people saw the balancing act firsthand, they better understood the challenges. Leaders can try a similar approach by running simulations or interactive exercises that let teams work through complex decisions.
Coltrin says his team made sure every idea was discussed, not just collected. If something didn’t work, city leaders explained why. That transparency built trust and helped participants see how their input shaped the outcome.
Creating an environment where people felt safe to share feedback was important to city leaders. Coltrin made sure everyone understood there were no wrong answers or silly questions. That simple statement encouraged creativity and collaboration—a lesson any leader can use when inviting tough conversations or new ideas.
Coltrin says the biggest takeaway from the process applies far beyond city planning: “Whether it’s a citizen or a customer, gathering input throughout the process is critical to your success. This creates buy-in and ultimately leads to a stronger solution. But above all else, be a good listener and always communicate—you can’t communicate too much.”
The city’s ultimate goal was a plan that reflects the community’s needs. For business owners, the same approach can lead to stronger solutions and real commitment from your team.
