The arrangement is part of Springfield Sister Cities Association and the International Sister Cities Association. Two visible symbols of the strong tie are found in the Stroll Garden at Nathanael Greene Park and the Azumaya a gift to Springfield from Isesaki in the City s Friendship Park. The City Seal During this country's formative days, a serpent on a city seal was used frequently, as was a circular shape with the city's name surrounding the border. The Seal of the City of Springfield consists of this circular shape surrounded by a rope border. The center focuses on a shield bearing alternative stripes, wrapped by the traditional serpent.
Rays of light shine from the shield to the inner border.
In 1953, so the story goes, a young Springfield man released a box of cobras from a pet shop on the City Square. The cobras were subsequently discovered in various locations around the City, creating quite a stir and giving Springfield national attention. The event prompted City officials to redraw the City seal's traditional serpent to resemble a hooded cobra. However, by 1954, when the publicity died down, the seal was returned to its original design. This seal is imprinted with a gold stamp on official proclamations and City documents.