The East Peoria Levee District and Civic Plaza has a new reading garden. The new community space was dedicated Wednesday. The garden cost just over $500,000 to build. It was paid for entirely by private donations raised through the East Peoria Foundation. Sue Yoder-Portscheller is the president of the Foundation. She says the garden was designed to anchor downtown and be green, growing and family centered.
“The library has programing for the children’s portion and it’s just adorable. The plannings are a little new since it’s spring, but it’s going to be gorgeous, lush. Everything was well done first class, something that we can very proud of.”Yoder-Portscheller says.
Yoder-Portscheller says the Foundation is also working to raise another 2-million dollars toward the construction of Levee Park. That will take up the remainder of the green space on the civic plaza. It’s to include a water fountain and a performance area.