BEST LOCAL CHARACTER Gus Gordon Practically everyone in Springfield knows Gus Gordon. If you haven’t seen him on Channel 20’s weather forecasts in the past 20 years, perhaps you’ve seen him in one of the numerous plays and musicals in which he has performed over the years. Throw in the fact that Gordon has won “best actor” in our Best of Springfield polls several years in a row, and it’s no surprise that he has been voted “best local character” this year. Gordon says performing on stage lets him show his adventurous side, as opposed to the straight-laced Gus Gordon everyone sees on TV. “It really helped me find my place in high school and helped me develop self-confidence,” he says, adding that one of his favorite characters to play is Billy Flynn in The Producers. If you’re not already familiar with Gus Gordon, catch his next production, It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play in the LRS Theatre at the Hoogland Center for the Arts Dec. 17-19. Gordon is playing multiple parts this time, which will really give him a chance to shine.

BEST HANGOUT IF YOU’RE BROKE Washington Park Who says you have to have money to enjoy life? Washington Park was voted the best hangout if you’re broke, and it’s easy to see why. The historic park, created in 1901, features a paved pathway lined with beautiful old trees and stately houses, and the calm lagoon is a great place to sit and feed the ducks while you ruminate about life. It doesn’t matter if you’re just out on a jog, trying to keep the kids busy or if you’re taking a date on a romantic picnic to hide your empty wallet; Washington Park is an absolute treasure, especially when you can’t afford anything else.

BEST PLACE FOR A LAST DATE Choosing a spot for your first date is always a crucial decision, but where do you go if you’re ready to end a relationship? While Déjà Vu strip club, 3220 Lake Plaza Dr., won this category with 142 votes, that seems more like a place one might go after a last date. Runners-up included the funeral home, the Department of Public Health, Planned Parenthood, a dark alley and “text message.” (May we suggest “C U NEVER” or “ITS OVR” ?) Soccer World, 2700 W. Lawrence Ave., also got several votes, which makes us wonder whether there’s more to soccer than we thought….

BEST PLACE TO ENTERTAIN KIDS Knights Action Park 1700 Knights Recreation Dr Keeping kids entertained is a never-ending task, but Knights Action Park has enough activities to occupy even the most fickle munchkins. Started in the 1930s as a golf range, the family-owned business has added arcade games, water slides, mini golf and amusement rides since moving in 1976 to their current location just south of Interstate 72. They also run the Route 66 Drive-In theater, which shows mainly kid-friendly films. General manager Doug Knight says the park is geared not just for kids, but for the whole family. “Everything we put in, we try to make it a family attraction, so the whole family can play,” he says.

BEST LOCAL CHARACTER Runner-up Steve Unverzagt, realtor Last year, local realtor Steve Unverzagt was a runner-up for “best local character”, and although he passed away in September from complications of a motorcycle crash, Unverzagt still managed to take second in the same category this year. His larger-than-life personality complimented his outgoing, positive style. An avid motorcyclist and volunteer, Unverzagt made friends wherever he went, especially when he told hilarious stories about his colorful past. (He told us last year about his 12,000 mile motorcycle ride to the Arctic Circle with little more than a pistol he carried in case of polar bears.) “I’m a guy who wants to live,” Unverzagt once said. “I live every moment like it’s my last.” Great advice from a real character who will be missed.

BEST HIGH SCHOOL COACH Ken Leonard, Sacred Heart-Griffin After 26 years of coaching at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School in Springfield, SHG athletic director Ken Leonard still seems thrilled to be doing what he loves. Leonard describes his job as “a blessing, a privilege and a pleasure.” It was likely that enthusiasm that earned him the title of “best high school coach” from this year’s voters, and he jokingly explains his success as a coach by hypothesizing, “If an old dinosaur stays around long enough…” But that’s just half the story; not only is Ken Leonard this year’s best coach, but he also raised this year’s runner-up. Leonard’s son, Derek Leonard, came in second by a single vote. The younger Leonard coaches at Rochester High School, and he shares a joyful eagerness for the job with his father. Asked separately why they got into coaching, their answers are eerily similar: both Leonards smile widely when they say they love having a positive impact on kids. It definitely shows. Runner-up: Derek Leonard, Rochester High School