PEORIA, IL -- The old railroad turntable at Riverfront Park is likely heading to a railroad museum in Monticello, IL -- a town near Urbana, IL
The city of Peoria hosted an Oct. 17 public meeting on the fate of the turntable, and about two dozen people appeared to discuss what should be done. A consensus supported moving the turntable to the museum, where it will be restored and used in museum projects.
There was a sad ambience in the room, as people criticized the city for neglecting this artifact from the past. The site was a railroad yard before it became a park. The city had promised to maintain the turntable as part of its federal grant award to purchase the site, but neglected it instead.
City officials at the meeting several times promised to maintain the park as a park in perpetuity. Some in the audience were skeptical, after the four year fight to kill an apartment proposal that would have destroyed most of the park. They expressed concern that proposals for private development could surface again.
"There are no plans for development" in the park, said Deborah Roethler, assistant city manager.
There was talk that the city's riverfront planning has expanded to the park. Joyce Harant, a Peoria Park District board member, cautioned the city officials about developing plans without public input, then presenting them for public approval. "The people should develop the park," she said.
"We have beautiful open spaces. We don't need another playground" or more concrete, a woman said.
The turntable site will be filled in and grass planted. Signs will commemorate the site, and the turntable at the museum, Peoria's gift to the museum, officials said.
-- Elaine Hopkins
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