Ben Tegeler is the Executive Director of Ozark Greenways, a Springfield-based nonprofit building a trail network that connects neighborhoods, parks, and everyday destinations across the region. In this conversation, Ben breaks down what it actually takes to build and maintain a trail system — and why he sees trails not as a recreational luxury, but as essential community infrastructure.
We talk through the major projects shaping the region's future — the Chadwick Flyer Trail, the Fellows Lake loop connection, the Lake Springfield corridor, the Bosinki Gap, and over $4 million in recently funded projects across Springfield, Greene County, and Christian County. Ben also opens up about the gap that keeps him up at night: operational capacity. With a staff of three managing nearly 80 miles of trails and a capital budget rivaling Great Rivers Greenways in St. Louis, Ozark Greenways is doing remarkable work — and needs the community to show up for it. We also get into his background in homeless services and city planning, what drew him to this role, and why 30% of Springfield not having access to a car makes trail connectivity a matter of equity, not just recreation.
This episode is part of the Ozarks Experience series — long-form conversations focused on the people behind the work shaping the Ozarks.