Springfield, IL (WAND) – Suraksha Bhandari was named the new professional planner for the City of Springfield, operating within the office of Planning and Economic Development. She has degrees in architecture, disaster risk management and metropolitan planning.

Bhandari has only been in the position since early December and has been familiarizing herself with the city and its economic development partners. She was drawn to Springfield for its rich history, as well as its varied neighborhoods and industries.

“It’s about respecting our history, heritage and focusing more on adapting to the changes that are coming,” Bhandari said. “When you talk about trying to preserve the area as well as having the accommodation for visitors in terms of places they want to visit. Encouraging more art and culture within the city, that’s what brings community together.”

Bhandari said it’s important to combine her professional skills and education with outreach. She wants to ensure the changes the city is aiming for are things residents actually want to see. She explains that this approach allows the impact of projects to span further and make sure the city’s best interests are prioritized.

“My main goal is working towards multidisciplinary aspects of planning, from socioeconomic aspects to improving infrastructure features,” Bhandari said. “We are working for more of research driven planning, and outreach for providing resources and grants for business and retaining that along with more sustainable planning efforts.” 

Among some of Bhandari’s focuses is revitalizing the downtown area and making it more resilient. She always wants to see vacant buildings around the city be used in creative ways. She also mentioned affordable, mixed-use housing as a solution to make it easier to keep people in Springfield.