The existing large-scale plan to upgrade the Peoria Riverfront has a new feature, with the city and the Hengst Foundation in discussions to pursue an amphitheater project near the Murray Baker Bridge.
The foundation issued a news release late Thursday announcing intentions to make a restricted donation to the city to put toward an amphitheater development.
“The amphitheater would enhance the adopted Peoria Riverfront Master Plan, providing an unparalleled community benefit,” the statement said.
Peoria City Manager Patrick Urich said the possibility of having an amphitheater along the Illinois River presents an exciting opportunity to build on the adopted plans to reinvigorate the riverfront.
“We’re still discussing with the foundation what a design might look like. There are certainly regulatory requirements on the riverfront – because we’re in the flood plain – that we need to take into consideration,” said Urich.
“An amphitheater in Festival Park, that makes a lot of sense. Between festivals and concerts, it’s been a great location downtown, and this will make it even better.”
The pivot to a Peoria project comes after the Hengst Foundation abandoned its plans to develop a $12 million, 5,000-seat amphitheater in Washington. Foundation creator Jim Hengst pledged to donate funding for his proposed hometown venue, which he intended to name after his late wife Dee.
Urich said that while details are still being discussed, he anticipates the Hengst contribution to the city would be a “substantial donation.”
“I think it would be close to or consistent with what they were talking about in Washington,” said Urich.
The Festival Park site is just northeast of the Murray Baker Bridge, next to the Peoria RiverPlex. He said the city already holds festivals and outdoor concerts there in coordination with the Peoria Park District, and noted the amphitheater proposal is “consistent” with the inclusion of a larger band shell as part of the Peoria Riverfront Master Plan.
“In the riverfront plan, the CEFCU stage goes away, and so we would be looking at pivoting to that Festival Park area for events and activities that you know are music-related,” he said. “Certainly, that type of donation would be for a year-round amenity for the community to utilize.”
Urich said continued talks with the Hengst Foundation over the next 4-6 weeks will work through the regulatory requirements and design aspects. He said the hope is to have some conceptual renderings available when the donation is presented to the City Council for a vote, likely in September.
Urich said the complete riverfront revitalization remains a major component of Peoria’s comprehensive plan, with $15 million in state grant funding reappropriated in the current Illinois budget. However, those dollars have not yet been released by the Illinois Department of Economic Opportunity, and the full renovation cost is significantly higher – and facing inflationary increases.
“Our estimates right now, it’s probably $25-$30 million is what the total price tag is going to be,” said Urich. “So between other public dollars and hopefully private donations, we’ll be able to close that gap.
“Once we know that the funds from the state are getting released, then we’ll certainly start doing more private donation work. But this is obviously a great kick-start to that project.”
