Gov. JB Pritzker sees the Peoria Park District’s $6.5 million transformation of the Golf Learning Center as an economic driver for the region.
“Projects like this one are about a whole lot more than just golf,” Pritzker said Tuesday during the official opening ceremony for the upgraded venue on Radnor Road. “With these renovations, we’re helping to breathe new life into the future of the region, attracting new visitors and major new investments.
"The impact generated from it will flow back into this community. Our children will benefit from the work that we’ve done here, not just on the golf course, but also in making Peoria an even more attractive community to live in.”
The biggest addition to the golf center is “The Bays,” an all-seasons, two-level interactive driving range attraction comparable to the experience at a TopGolf location. The area is connected to “Fairways,” a new full-service bar and restaurant, as well as an area with indoor tech-enabled golf simulators.
“It’s an exciting day for our community because this facility represents where Peoria is headed,” said park district executive director Emily Cahill. “The Golf Learning Center is about access, opportunity, and community connection.
“It gives young people a place to learn new skills and build confidence. It creates opportunities for families and friends to spend meaningful time together, and it adds another high-quality recreational amenity that enhances the overall vibrancy of our region.”
Democratic State Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth said funding the renovations shows how bipartisanship in government is productive, noting that working alongside a Republican colleague, State Rep. Ryan Spain, helped make the project a reality.
“We were actually on a junket, doing something different, I won’t give the details, but while we were doing what we were doing, we came to a place — and it was not as nice as this — and I said to Ryan, ‘We need one of these in Peoria.’ He was like, ‘Yeah, we do.’”
State grants totaling $4.75 million through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity [DCEO] covered the bulk of the project cost, with the remainder was funded by the park district with some private contributions.
“I think this is going to be a draw, not just here locally within the city of Peoria, but throughout the region, throughout Central Illinois, and beyond,” said Mayor Rita Ali. “It is a huge opportunity and a huge investment in Peoria.”
Park district board president Robert Johnson said upgrading the golf center shows a commitment to upgrading the quality of life in Peoria by providing a place where residents can “learn, connect and thrive.”
“Parks and recreation are not luxuries, they are essential infrastructure for healthy, strong communities,” said Johnson. “Facilities like this generate economic activity, support tourism, attract regional events, create jobs, and contribute to the overall vitality of our local community.”
The project was initially announced in 2022, with Gordon-Booth announcing a $4 million grant. The venue held a soft opening in February prior to Tuesday’s official celebration.
“We are doing more than just opening a golf center,” said Pritzker. “We are building an engine to help grow the Peoria economy, bring more tourism, attract more investments, provide more people with a place to get active, and build community.”
