After more than 30 projects were submitted to the BUILD Peoria board this spring, the community has selected BUILD Peoria’s 2021-22 Community Project.
Thousands of Peoria-area residents selected potent Gratitude Park as the organization’s next build.
Nominated by Hedy Elliot and Bob Woolsey and in partnership with the Marcellus Sommerville Family Foundation, Potent Gratitude Park will be built adjacent to Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church across Martin Street from Proctor Recreation Center.
President of Friends of Proctor Center, Hedy Elliot, says that after finding out there were so many different projects nominated, her team was thrilled to even be a finalist.
"There were thirty organizations who submitted grants and when we heard we were in the final four, I mean we really got energized," she said.
Elliot says that she hopes this project makes a lasting impact on Peoria’s south side for years to come.
"We feel like it is going to be a project that lives long after Marcellus, Bob, and I," she said. "This is going to be a change for many decades to come."
BUILD Peoria will be working to fundraise for the building of Potent Gratidue Park will begin construction over the next year. The BUILD Peoria Chili Cook-Off fundraising event will be hosted on October 3.
