PEORIA, IL -- Planning for Peoria's Riverfront is underway, with ideas for the now flat green space which formally housed the concrete platform.
An Aug. 1 meeting, sponsored by Terra Engineering, brought forth ideas for the area, which includes the land between the two Illinois River bridges, but not Riverfront Park, north of the Murray Baker Bridge.
The ideas included: bicycle and canoe rentals, an ice skating rink, space for the farmer's market (which attracts thousands of people) steps leading down into the river (like St. Louis, Mo.) a dog park, athletic places, a splash pad, green space for picnics, a boardwalk close to the river, a barge with restaurant, and of course parking. Much of the area floods, so that must be considered in selecting features for the place.
The engineers will select some of these ideas and encompass them into a drawing for the next meeting.
Cost was not discussed, but some at the meeting warned maintenance costs must be considered. A splash pad at the Gateway Building, where the meeting took place, is not operating this summer because it needs maintenance, not in the city's budget, it was said.
Someone suggested protecting the River Station building from flooding, as it now must rely on sandbags. A berm could be built as part of the plans, was the response.
The selected features could be added in phases, someone said, to make the project more financially feasible.
-- Elaine Hopkins
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