PEORIA, Ill. — Kim Blickenstaff’s KDB Group held a presentation Thursday night that allowed for community feedback on his idea of InterPlay Park, a park that would be built over I-74 between Adams St. and Perry Ave.
Blickenstaff was joined by Theodore Hoerr, from Manhattan-based landscape architecture and urban design firm Terrain Work.
The park would act as a green roof over I-74 with many objectives in mind.
Blickenstaff and Hoerr presented four main objectives of the park at Thursday’s presentation:
- Stitch neighborhoods separated by the construction of I-74
- Create inter-generational and community play
- Spur economic and community development
- Initiate greener city
According to Hoerr, Peoria is the 22nd fastest warming city in the United States, largely because of the lack of green space seen in downtown Peoria.
Implementing InterPlay Park, according to Hoerr, would mitigate the warming happening in the city.
It would also help with storm water runoff issues in Peoria by providing soil where water can absorb into.
One of the biggest challenges in creating the park will be securing the funding. In President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan, $20 billion is proposed to be set aside that will reconnect neighborhoods and ensure new projects.
According to Hoerr, that fits right into their plan for the park.
“[I-74] effectively created a divide right down the city,” said Hoerr. “Dividing not only the city, but dividing neighborhoods — the Downtown District and North Valley neighborhood.”
Blickenstaff said conversations have been had with Congressman Darin Lahood and Congresswoman Cheri Bustos to discuss the next steps from a federal level and funding for the project.
The estimated cost of InterPlay Park is $200 million, with a large amount funded by the federal government.
“I think for us to be a vibrant community again — and attract people for all these businesses moving in — this is just important to me,” said Blickenstaff. “I think we have the resources to do it, and the money seems to be here to solve this problem.
“I think as we get more and more Peorians through here, everyone’s going to have a renewed since of pride.”
Thursday was the first of many community meetings that will be held regarding the park.
More information can be found at InterPlayPark.com. Community input can also be entered on the website.
