A new master plan for Peoria’s Riverfront Park is set for review by the city council later this month.
According to the City of Peoria, planning for the new Riverfront Park started in 2017 with a review of the Riverfront Village. In 2018, the city demolished Riverfront Village and pivoted to planning a new future of Riverfront Park. The plans add attractions to riverfront land all the way from the Bob Michel Bridge to the Murray Baker Bridge.
“We’re one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Peoria is, with varied topography,” said 2nd District council member Chuck Grayeb. “So capitalizing on that river with a park? Imagine the excitement that we’re going to get.”
The plan created by Terra Engineering LTD. features a dog park, sports courts, a kayak launch, barge park, playground, garden and festival grounds. There’s no specific estimate available yet for how much the project will cost.
“It’s going to be a multimillion dollar project,” Grayeb said. “And again, I can talk to you about a new Main Street, I can talk to you about a new Riverfront Park, but we have to have the money from [the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity] to proceed.”
Adam White, owner of R.C. Outfitters, is concerned about a lack of a concrete budget to maintain the park, especially in the event of a flood.
“No one has answered a single question as to how we’re going to handle the next flood, and it floods all the time,” he said. “We’re putting the cart in front of the horse.”
White thinks those costs could fall on him and other riverfront business owners.
Any next steps in the creation of the new Riverfront Park depend on funding from the state government. The City of Peoria received a federal grant for a separate flood prevention projecton the riverfront earlier this year.
“It’s just tremendous,” Grayeb said. “It’s going to add excitement to our downtown. Our downtown is becoming so very exciting and there’s so much money being invested in our downtown.”
The proposal is set to come before the council at its next meeting on July 25.
Kinsley Reliford contributed to this report.
