PEORIA, Ill. – The Peoria City Council has had its first official look at plans for a new Riverfront Park, but there are concerns – both about how little some council members feel they know, and the cost.
The city says a plan to build the park including amenities like a playground, a bandshell, a floating barge park, and water features – extending from the Bob Michel Bridge to the Murray Baker Bridge – could cost from $16 million, to $25 million.
And the plan – described Tuesday night as a “30,000 foot view” – isn’t even a final one.
“I understand the vagaries of not knowing precisely how much money we’re going to have; but when we say anywhere from $16 mullion to $25 million, that gives me indigestion,” said Council Member Chuck Grayeb (Dist. 2). “Nevertheless, we should have some good idea (of a plan) by now with all the (community) engagement we’ve had with our stakeholders of what we want to see.”
$15 million of the cost comes from a state grant, and there’s also money to go toward building a flood wall, but officials say private funding could cover the rest..
“There’s an opportunity for private-public development,” said George Ghareeb, vice president, Terra Engineering. “We’ve been approached by people who want to help with the (proposed) fountain along Main Street. We’ve been approached by people that want to help with the (band) shell for the entertainment. We’ve been approached by people who wanted to help with the lighting…. So there’s a lot of opportunities for this.”
Council members also asked about security and the potential for crime. The presentation indicated that evidence suggests green spaces help reduce crime. Members suggested video surveillance and other similar features might be necessary.
Nonetheless, some council members remained impressed with the plans they saw.
“I think it’s a beautiful design,” said Council Member John Kelly (At Large). “Going that far is good enough. But the unique features of it – Peoria, Illinois features – I think are going to pay great, great dividends to our city, to the people who live here, work here, as well as people who are visiting.”
The Planning and Zoning Commission will get to put its stamp on the designs in the next week or so, before a final city council vote in two weeks.
The City of Peoria would contract with the Peoria Park District for operation and maintenance of the park, according to Tuesday’s presentation.
CLICK HERE to see the “conceptual designs” for the park (PDF).
