Springfield

Thurston is a suburban neighborhood located on the far eastern side of Springfield, Oregon. The community has an active Main Street paired with distant views of mountain ranges filled with evergreens. The business corridor, also known as Highway 126, runs down the center of the community, leading past local shops and retail plazas. Beyond the residences are nature areas and the McKenzie River to the north. “Thurston offers more privacy than the rest of Springfield and is less busy,” says local resident Wayne Antone, a Realtor and the founder of Host Homes LLC. Locals do not have to leave the community to shop for groceries and other goods. Dari Mart has convenience items, while Albertsons is a one-stop shop to restock an empty kitchen and home supplies. Those seeking a caffeine boost can visit Old Crow Coffee or grab a bubble tea at More Boba. Toreros Mexican Family Restaurant is a popular establishment for margaritas and attentive service. Locals in the mood for Chinese-style takeout head to Ocean Garden. Conway’s Restaurant and Lounge is a no-frills hangout spot with a pool table and outdoor seating. Further west, there is more shopping and dining along Main Street. PublicHouse is a community gem with an onsite Whiskey Lab, live music, and several restaurants inside a refurbished church. The city of Springfield has several community events throughout the year. Two of the most notable are The Springfield Filbert Festival, commemorating the hazelnut’s role in the local economy, and The Block Party, which shuts down Main Street at the end of summer. Along the residential streets are sidewalks often occupied by bicyclists and pedestrians. The housing stock includes a number of 20th-century ranch-style houses with driveways and two-car garages. Split levels and bi-level homes blend in seamlessly with Thurston’s gently sloping landscape. There are also Colonial-inspired dwellings with vinyl siding or board and batten exteriors. Residents hoping to build a dream home from the ground up may find available lots in the Mountaingate development. Thurston residences range in price from $350,000 to around $600,000. Thurston students attend the Springfield School District. Kindergarten to fifth graders may attend Ridgeview Elementary with a C on Niche or Thurston Elementary with a B-minus from Niche. Thurston Middle also receives a B-minus and promises electives focusing on digital and print art as well as industrial technology. Thurston High offers CTE industry pathways in business management, early childhood education, industrial engineering and marketing management; the school has a C-plus grade from Niche. Thurston Hills Natural Area is a 600-acre preserve with trails and open areas; the variety of trees and wildflowers can make locals forget how close they are to the city. Locals can visit Jesse Maine Memorial Park for a picnic underneath a tree or play a game of basketball. Bob Artz Park contains a number of baseball and softball fields available for reservation. Thurston Park is next to the local high school; the green space includes paved walking paths and a basketball court. Next to Lively Park is an indoor aquatic complex with a wave pool, slide and a community room. “Thurston is outside of town but close enough to easily get around,” Antone says. Commuters can park at the Thurston Station and travel on the Lane Transit District routes. Bus stops are found throughout the community on popular roadways. Just west of the city is Interstate 5 for quick access to the rest of the region. The neighborhood is about 10 miles away from the city of Eugene and about 75 miles away from the state capital, Salem.

Nestled along the Willamette River in the heart of Springfield, the historic Downtown/Washburne District captures the imagination of residents and visitors with its walkable streets, charming homes, artsy boutiques and delectable restaurants in the Pacific Northwest’s beloved evergreen landscape. Springfield’s legacy as an old logging town inhabits the homes and businesses throughout Main Street and the Washburne District. Named for C.W. Washburne, a prominent early settler and gristmill owner, the district and the rest of the city grew through the late 1800s. As more people moved here to work in the nearby sawmills and timber yards, workers built sturdy Craftsman bungalows, Tudor cottages and Homestead farmhouses. More than a century later, Springfield mirrors the neighboring city of Eugene, divided by Interstate 5 and the Willamette River. Timber logging remains vital to the regional economy but has since been surpassed by healthcare and higher education, with the University of Oregon, PeaceHealth Medical Group and the McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center near downtown Springfield collectively employing more than 15,000 people. The Main Street area downtown features plenty of places to dine and shop for groceries, butcher-cut meats, organic health foods and other essentials. Discount supermarket chain Grocery Outlet offers brand-name products and goods. While Main Street Market has fewer items, folks shop here for fresh local organic produce and specialty products. With an outdoor naturalist character to the community, enthusiasts can shop for kayaks, bicycles and camping gear at businesses such as Oregon WaterShed and Len’s Bikes. Residents can sometimes have difficulty choosing where to eat downtown with restaurants serving various cuisines, including Mongolian barbecue, American-Chinese takeout, Mexican taquerias, Italian pizzerias and classic American diners and cafes. With theaters, antique furniture stores and bars along the roadway, adding other activities to a date night or a leisurely weekend afternoon close to home is easy. In the fall, the roar of fans at the University of Oregon’s Autzen Stadium travels throughout the sprawling riverside park. Aspiring brainiacs can also check out the kid-friendly Eugene Science Center for hands-on lessons with its interactive exhibits and planetarium. Arranged in a classic urban grid pattern, Springfield’s downtown area mainly features older homes from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, just a few blocks away from the myriad of restaurants, shops, museums and venues on its vintage, tree-lined Main Street corridor. Home prices vary significantly throughout the community. With an average value of $400,000, housing costs here are on par with the rest of the city. For around $300,000, prospective buyers can close on a modest one-story, 1,000-square-foot home. Upward of $450,000, larger historic properties with large front porches, fenced yards and original hardwood floors attract buyers. Students in the community can attend Two Rivers-Dos Rios Elementary School, which includes English Language Development and Talented and Gifted programs for kids. Kids can continue playing and learning in the after-school Willamalane Kids Club program through the local Parks and Recreation department. Niche gives the school a C rating. From there, kids can advance to Hamlin Middle School and Springfield High School. Niche gives both secondary schools a C rating as well. Folks gather to swim and lounge by the water west of the downtown area at Island Park, a relatively small green space by the river featuring trails, bike paths and a gazebo. The city hosts summer concerts and other warm-weather events, including the 4th of July “Light of Liberty” celebration and fireworks show. While there’s plenty to do at Island Park, residents can venture farther along the West D Street Greenway to explore even more trails, beaches, playgrounds and other amenities at Alton Barker Park.

Midtown South Springfield is a residential community just under 5 miles from the heart of Eugene. Just over the banks of Willamette River, area locals have ample outdoor opportunities like historic nature sites and buzzing community parks. Stores and restaurants line main commercial strips, providing locals access to various shopping needs. Houses in Midtown South Springfield are predominantly single-story styles from anywhere between the 1920s and ’60s. Buyers will find a lot of cottages and bungalows, typically with two bedrooms and 1,000 square feet. A few ranch styles feature three bedrooms with 1,500 square feet of wiggle room on lots just under a quarter-acre. A few homes were remodeled into duplexes, affording buyers more options. Housing prices range from $250,000 to $450,000. Most residents enjoy a walk along the sidewalk-lined streets, often accompanied by their dogs. The community is moderately woodsy and, during the fall, is bright with shades of yellow, red and orange. When locals want to spend a day outside, they head to Willamalane Park. The park features ample amenities, including basketball courts, tennis courts and a playground. Locals can work out at the outdoor fitness station with equipment like a chest press and bench dip station. Runners and bikers use Shana’s Trail, an 800-meter nature path, and skateboarders hit a few tricks on the Willamalane Skate Park. Adjacent to the outdoor park is the Willamalane Park Swim Center. The swim center has an eight-lane pool, a diving board and a spa. Locals can also bring the kids to Marylhurst Park, a small pocket park at the corner of 18th and H Street. Another popular local spot is Dorris Ranch, a national historic site on the National Register of Historic Places. Locals frequent the walking trials, including the Middle Fork Path. Bountiful restaurants and stores branch off commercial corridors, Mohawk Boulevard and Olympic Street. WinCo Foods is a regular spot for grocery shopping, as well as the Walmart Supercenter off Olympic Street. Local craftsman and farmers grab their goods at the Wilco Farm Store and Harbor Freight Tools. For a bite to eat, options abound. Coburg Pizza Company features signature pies like the prima, carne, pazzesco, and dolce dessert pizza. Locals particularly enjoy Coburg’s garlic knots. Other local favorites include pulled pork sandwiches from Hole in the Wall BBQ, burritos from Burrito Boy and teriyaki chicken from Ume Grill. Kids growing up in the area attend Springfield Public Schools, which earned an overall C-plus from Niche. Children kickstart their education at Two Rivers Dos Rios Elementary School, which has an overall C on Niche and a student-to-teacher ratio of 16-to-1. Students advance to Hamlin Middle School. The middle school earned an overall three out of 10 on GreatSchools. Students advance to Springfield High School to earn their diplomas. The high school features many clubs, like Art Club, Robotics Club and Dungeons and Dragons. Springfield earned an overall C on Niche. The Lane Transit District serves the Midtown and South Springfield area, and several bus stops dot the community. Many locals use their cars to get around and hop on Highway 126 when leaving the area. Downtown Eugene is 5 miles westbound on 126.