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Peoria Park District
AbbreviationPPD
EstablishedMarch 15, 1894; 129 years ago (1894 -03-15)
TypePublic park district
Location
Executive Director
Emily Cahill
Staff161 full time; 1,400 part time (in 2016)
Websitepeoriaparks.org

Peoria Park District is the oldest and largest park district in the state of Illinois.[1]

History

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The Peoria Park District was founded in 1894 as The Pleasure Driveway and Park District of Peoria.[2][3]

Awards

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  • 1994, 2001, and 2010 National Gold Medal Awards for excellence in park and recreation management[4][5]
  • Accreditation as one of the first Illinois Distinguished Park Districts[4][5]
  • Employer of the Year by the AAIM Employers’ Association[5]

Directors

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Bonnie Noble

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Bonnie W. Noble served the park district in different capacities for 43 years.[6][4] In 1973, she was the first woman elected to the park's board of trustees and became the board president in 1979.[7][5] She served as executive director for 24 years from 1992 to 2016.[8][7][6] In 2004, Noble was inducted as a fellow into the American Academy for Parks and Recreation. Noble campaigned for funding the Peoria Playhouse Children's Museum, tripled the size of the Peoria Zoo, partnered with OSF Saint Francis Medical Center to build the downtown RiverPlex, and helped develop the trail system of the Rock Island Greenway.[8][4][6] She retired in the spring of 2016.[8][9] The new home of the Parks District, Bonnie W. Noble Center for Park District Administration, was named in her honor.[10][9] Noble died on September 9, 2021.[4]

List of parks

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Name Image Address Coordinates Acres Ref
John Martin Becker Park 3401 West Woodhill Lane 40°43′30.96″N 89°38′50.83″W / 40.7252667°N 89.6474528°W / 40.7252667; -89.6474528 14 acres (5.7 ha) [11]
Bielfeldt Park 5319 North Galena Road 40°45′6.96″N 89°33′38.98″W / 40.7519333°N 89.5608278°W / 40.7519333; -89.5608278 21 acres (8.5 ha) [12]
Laura Bradley Park 1317 North Park Road 40°42′12.3″N 89°37′31.71″W / 40.703417°N 89.6254750°W / 40.703417; -89.6254750 140 acres (57 ha) [13]
Camp Wokanda 620 East Boy Scout Road, Chillicothe 40°50′12.27″N 89°35′4.38″W / 40.8367417°N 89.5845500°W / 40.8367417; -89.5845500 300 acres (120 ha) [14]
Charter Oak Park 5802 North Orange Prairie Road 40°46′4.8″N 89°40′30.72″W / 40.768000°N 89.6752000°W / 40.768000; -89.6752000 120 acres (49 ha) [15]
Chartwell Park 2828 West Willow Lake Drive 40°46′10.38″N 89°38′24.97″W / 40.7695500°N 89.6402694°W / 40.7695500; -89.6402694 25 acres (10 ha) [16]
Columbia Park West Creighton Terrace 40°43′4.8″N 89°35′50.6″W / 40.718000°N 89.597389°W / 40.718000; -89.597389 20 acres (8.1 ha) [17]
Creighton Woods Park 307 West McClure Avenue 40°46′5.88″N 89°39′17.33″W / 40.7683000°N 89.6548139°W / 40.7683000; -89.6548139 2 acres (0.81 ha) [18]
Detweiller Park 8327 North Galena Road 40°47′32.28″N 89°34′45.48″W / 40.7923000°N 89.5793000°W / 40.7923000; -89.5793000 760 acres (310 ha) [19]
Donovan Park 5805 North Knoxville Avenue 40°45′27.5″N 89°35′51.72″W / 40.757639°N 89.5977000°W / 40.757639; -89.5977000 1 acre (0.40 ha) [20]
Endres Park 5100 North Willard Road, Peoria Heights 40°44′55.42″N 89°35′23.61″W / 40.7487278°N 89.5898917°W / 40.7487278; -89.5898917 10 acres (4.0 ha) [21]
Forest Park 5809 North Forest Park Drive, Peoria Heights 40°45′26.28″N 89°34′29.64″W / 40.7573000°N 89.5749000°W / 40.7573000; -89.5749000 540 acres (220 ha) [22]
Franciscan Recreation Complex 908 North Sterling Avenue 40°41′57.45″N 89°37′54.85″W / 40.6992917°N 89.6319028°W / 40.6992917; -89.6319028 [23]
Giant Oak Park 426 West High Street 40°41′23.5″N 89°36′43.31″E / 40.689861°N 89.6120306°E / 40.689861; 89.6120306 [24]
Glen Oak Park 2218 North Prospect Road 117 acres (47 ha)
Grand View Drive 3210 Grandview Drive 180 acres (73 ha)
John H. Gwynn Jr. Park 809 W John H Gwynn Jr Ave 17 acres (6.9 ha)
Kellogg Golf Course 7716 North Radnor Road 6,399 yd (5,851 m)
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park 825 West McBean Street 7 acres (2.8 ha)
Lakeview Park 1125 West Lake Avenue 40 acres (16 ha)
Leslie Rutherford Park Dunlap
Logan Park 1414 South Livingston Street
Luthy Botanical Garden
Madison Golf Course 5,332 yd (4,876 m)
Manning Park North Manning Drive
Markwoodlands Park 6001 North Frostwood Parkway 18 acres (7.3 ha)
Morton Square Park 901 Northeast Monroe Street 3 acres (1.2 ha)
Mossville Soccer Complex 12026 North Old Galena Road, Chillicothe
Newman Golf Course 2021 West Nebraska Avenue 6,497 yd (5,941 m)
Peoria Playhouse Children's Museum
Proctor Center South DuSable Street
Riverfront Park 1317 North Park Road
Riverplex Recreation and Wellness 600 Northeast Water Street
Robinson Park 400 West Mossville Road 675 acres (273 ha)

Rocky Glen Park

Kickapoo Creek Road 40°41′39.2″N 89°39′6.37″W / 40.694222°N 89.6517694°W / 40.694222; -89.6517694
Bicycle Safety Town 6518 North Sheridan Road 40°45′59.73″N 89°36′8.94″W / 40.7665917°N 89.6024833°W / 40.7665917; -89.6024833 4,000 ft (1,200 m) [25]
Schmoeger Park 3400 North Western Avenue 42 acres (17 ha)
Sommer Farm 6329 N Koerner Rd, Edwards 320 acres (130 ha)
Sommer Park North 6600 North Basket Oak Drive, Edwards
Stadium Park 500 East Lake Avenue 7.5 acres (3.0 ha)
Timothy J. Cassidy Park 1621 West Meadowview Drive, Dunlap 25 acres (10 ha)
Trewyn Park 2219 South Idaho Street 40°39′44.24″N 89°38′24.45″W / 40.6622889°N 89.6401250°W / 40.6622889; -89.6401250 21 acres (8.5 ha)

Parks

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John Martin Becker Park

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Also known as Becker Park, it is 14 acres (5.7 ha) located at 3401 West Woodhill Lane (coordinates ).

Bielfeldt Park

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it is 21 acres (8.5 ha) located at 5319 North Galena Road (coordinates ).

Laura Bradley Park

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Main article: Laura Bradley Park

it is 140 acres (57 ha) located at 1317 North Park Road (coordinates ).

Camp Wokanda

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Camp Wokanda was acquired from W.D. Boyce Council of the Scouts BSA of America. It is 300 acres (120 ha) located at 620 East Boy Scout Road, Chillicothe (coordinates ). The park has a lake for fishing and camping amenities are available, including a dining hall, sleeping cabins, and program buildings. Programming such as naturalist tours and environmental educations is available.

Charter Oak Park

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it is 120 acres (49 ha) located at 5802 North Orange Prairie Road (coordinates ).

Chartwell Park

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it is 25 acres (10 ha) located at 2828 West Willow Lake Drive (coordinates ).

Columbia Park

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it is 20 acres (8.1 ha) located on West Creighton Terrace (coordinates ).

Creighton Woods Park

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it is 2 acres (0.81 ha) located at 307 West McClure Avenue (coordinates ).

Detweiller Park

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it is 760 acres (310 ha) located at 8327 North Galena Road (coordinates ).

Donovan Park

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it is 1 acre (0.40 ha) located at 5805 North Knoxville Avenue (coordinates ). Donovan Park is adjacent to the Rock Island Greenway. Northmoor Observatory is located in Donovan Park. It is an accredited Level 1 Arboretum. It has three ponds for fishing and a sculpture garden. It was a savanna habitat, then a farm, turned into a golf course, and is being restored to savanna once again.

Endres Park

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it is 10 acres (4.0 ha) located at 5100 North Willard Road, Peoria Heights (coordinates ).

Forest Park

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Main article: Forest Park Nature Center

it is 540 acres (220 ha) located at 5809 North Forest Park Drive, Peoria Heights (coordinates ).

Franciscan Recreation Complex

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it is 0 acres (0 ha) located at 908 North Sterling Avenue (coordinates ). The complex has a full size gym available for event rental, leagues, practices, and games. Programming includes pickleball and volleyball open gyms.

Giant Oak Park

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it is 0 acres (0 ha) located at 426 West High Street (coordinates ). As one of Peoria's smallest parks, its namesake is a large burr oak tree, at least 300 years old with branches at least 100 ft (30 m) long and a trunk 13 ft (4.0 m) in circumference. The park features the historic Easton Fountain.

Glen Oak Park

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Main article: Peoria Zoo

it is 117 acres (47 ha) located at 2218 North Prospect Road (coordinates ).

Grand View Drive

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Main article: Grandview Drive

it is 180 acres (73 ha) located at 3210 Grandview Drive (coordinates ). Grandview Drive stretches from Prospect Road to Illinois Route 29, and is a winding road with several sight-seeing areas. There is also a large park, known as Grandview Park.

John H. Gwynn Jr. Park

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it is 17 acres (6.9 ha) located at 809 W John H Gwynn Jr Ave (coordinates ). It has an aquatic center with a zero depth pool, water slide, diving well, and a wet sand play area.

Kellogg Golf Course

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it is 6,399 yd (5,851 m) located at 7716 North Radnor Road (coordinates ). The 18-hole course is designed for low to medium handicap golfers, with an executive 9-hole course.

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park

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it is 7 acres (2.8 ha) located at 825 West McBean Street (coordinates ). It has a firehouse-inspired playground.

Lakeview Park

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it is 40 acres (16 ha) located at 1125 West Lake Avenue (coordinates ). Lakeview Park is home to the Peoria Park District administrative offices, named the Bonnie W. Noble Center for Administration. It contains the Lakeview Recreation Center, Owens Center, Girl Scouts of Central Illinois, Peoria Public Library Lakeview Branch, and Peoria Players Theatre.

Leslie Rutherford Park

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it is 0 acres (0 ha) located in Dunlap (coordinates ).

Logan Park

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it is 0 acres (0 ha) located at 1414 South Livingston Street (coordinates ).

Luthy Botanical Garden

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Main article: George L. Luthy Memorial Botanical Garden

Luthy Botanical

Madison Golf Course

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it is an 18-hole 5,332 yd (4,876 m) golf course located at (coordinates ).

Manning Park

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it is 0 acres (0 ha) located on North Manning Drive (coordinates ).

Markwoodlands Park

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it is 18 acres (7.3 ha) located at 6001 North Frostwood Parkway (coordinates ). It is next to Mark Bills School.

Morton Square Park

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it is 3 acres (1.2 ha) located at 901 Northeast Monroe Street (coordinates ).

Mossville Soccer Complex

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it is 0 acres (0 ha) located at 12026 North Old Galena Road, Chillicothe (coordinates ).

Newman Golf Course

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it is an 18-hole 6,497 yd (5,941 m) golf course located at 2021 West Nebraska Avenue (coordinates ).

Peoria Playhouse Children's Museum

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The Peoria Park District moved out of the Glen Oak Pavilion in February 2014 and the new Peoria PlayHouse Children's Museum took up residence.[26] The Children's Museum officially opened in 2015 after 15 years of planning and development.[27]

Proctor Center

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it is 0 acres (0 ha) located on South DuSable Street (coordinates ).

Riverfront Park

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it is 0 acres (0 ha) located at 1317 North Park Road (coordinates ).

Riverplex Recreation and Wellness

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it is 0 acres (0 ha) located at 600 Northeast Water Street (coordinates ).

Robinson Park

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it is 675 acres (273 ha) located at 400 West Mossville Road (coordinates ).

Rocky Glen Park

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it is 0 acres (0 ha) located on Kickapoo Creek Road (coordinates ).

Bicycle Safety Town

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Bicycle Safety Town is a park where kids can learn to ride bicycles. It is located at 6518 North Sheridan Road. There are approximately 4,000 ft (1,200 m) of simulated roadways such as one-way streets, curves, traffic signals, and overpasses.

Schmoeger Park

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it is 42 acres (17 ha) located at 3400 North Western Avenue (coordinates ).

Sommer Farm

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it is 320 acres (130 ha) located at 6329 N Koerner Rd, Edwards (coordinates ).

Sommer Park North

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it is 0 acres (0 ha) located at 6600 North Basket Oak Drive, Edwards (coordinates ).

Stadium Park

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it is 7.5 acres (3.0 ha) located at 500 East Lake Avenue (coordinates ).

Timothy J. Cassidy Park

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it is 25 acres (10 ha) located at 1621 West Meadowview Drive, Dunlap (coordinates ).

Trewyn Park

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Trewyn Park is on the south side of Peoria and is one of the oldest parks in the district, created in the 1890s and one of the first five parks.[28][29] The pavilion was built in 1913. Today it houses a Head Start program with event space on the upper level available for rent.[28]

In 2022, the Peoria City Council voted to approve a $600,000 plan to renovate the park with a new playground, accessible walkways, new basketball courts, and a shelter with picnic tables.[30][31]

Trails

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Rock Island Greenway

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Main article: Rock Island Trail State Park (Illinois)

The Rock Island Trail is 38 miles from Toulon to Peoria on the old track bed of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. It was dedicated in 1989.[32] Peoria and Peoria Heights purchased the Kellar Branch in 1984, but due to legal issues, construction didn't begin on the spur until 2010.[32] The Peoria Park District maintains approximately 13 mi (21 km) from Downtown Peoria to Alta; this section is known as the Rock Island Greenway.[32]

Illinois River Bluff Trail

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The Illinois River Bluff Trail connects four parks on a 6.9 mi (11.1 km) trail along the river bluff: Camp Wokanda (northern trail terminus), Robinson Park at Mossville Road, Green Valley Camp, and Detweiller Park (southern trail terminus).[33][34]

Kinsey Park Trails

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Kinsey Park is a Wizard of Oz themed bike park.[35] The property is managed by the Peoria Park District, and the 13 mi (21 km) of trails are maintained by volunteers of the Peoria Area Mountain Bike Association (PAMBA).[35]

Pimiteoui Trail

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Pimiteoui Trail in Peoria Heights is 2.1 mi (3.4 km) trail from Grandview Drive to Forest Park Nature Center.[34]

Tawny Oaks

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The field station is located at 715 West Singing Woods Road, Edelstein. Tawny Oaks features a prairie restoration, 0.5 mi (0.80 km) of accessible gravel trail, a picnic area, and visitor center with restrooms. It is open seasonally and offers various workshops, educational walks, and bird watching events.

References

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  1. ^ "About Peoria Park District". Peoria Park District. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  2. ^ "Outdoor Recreation | Peoria, IL". peoriagov.org. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  3. ^ Vest, Monica (1994). "Illinois' Oldest Park District Celebrates Century of Service". www.lib.niu.edu. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Bonnie Noble Obituary - Peoria, IL". Dignity Memorial. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  5. ^ a b c d Lynn, Greg (2016-04-26). "An Interview with Bonnie Noble". Peoria Magazine. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  6. ^ a b c Vlahos, Nick (2021-09-13). "'She really was a visionary': Former Peoria Park District leader dies after storied career". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  7. ^ a b Shelley, Tim (2021-09-13). "Former Peoria Park District Director Bonnie Noble Dies At Age 80". WCBU Peoria. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  8. ^ a b c Rusciano, Alex (2015-10-27). "Bonnie Noble To Retire From Peoria Park District". WCBU Peoria. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  9. ^ a b Nightengale, Laura (2016-04-28). "Bonnie Noble steps down, leaving lasting mark as Peoria Park District director". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  10. ^ Nightengale, Laura (2014-02-17). "Park District moving into former Lakeview Museum after $2.75 million makeover". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  11. ^ "Becker Park (Peoria)". LOCAL OPAL. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  12. ^ "Bielfeldt Park (Peoria)". LOCAL OPAL. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  13. ^ "Bradley Park (Peoria)". LOCAL OPAL. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  14. ^ "Camp Wokanda (Chillicothe)". LOCAL OPAL. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  15. ^ "Charter Oak Park (Peoria)". LOCAL OPAL. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  16. ^ "Chartwell Park (Peoria)". LOCAL OPAL. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  17. ^ "Columbia Park (Peoria)". LOCAL OPAL. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  18. ^ "Creighton Woods Park (Peoria)". LOCAL OPAL. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  19. ^ "Detweiller Park (Peoria)". LOCAL OPAL. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  20. ^ "Donovan Park (Peoria)". LOCAL OPAL. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  21. ^ "Endres Park (Peoria)". LOCAL OPAL. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  22. ^ "Forest Park Nature Center (Peoria)". LOCAL OPAL. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  23. ^ "Franciscan Recreation Complex (Peoria)". LOCAL OPAL. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  24. ^ "Giant Oak Park (Peoria)". LOCAL OPAL. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  25. ^ "Bicycle Safety Town (Peoria)". LOCAL OPAL. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  26. ^ Molina, Denise (2014-02-11). "Peoria Park District moving". WCBU Peoria. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  27. ^ Nightengale, Laura (2015-06-12). "Peoria PlayHouse officially opens after a decade of effort". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  28. ^ a b Dayhoff, Matt (2022-01-12). "Trewyn Park in South Peoria: See photos of it during the winter". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  29. ^ Shelley, Tim (2022-02-03). "Cahill: Improvements on the way to South Peoria park district sites". WCBU Peoria. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  30. ^ Bullock, J. J. (2022-01-12). "'It's going to bring people here': This is the plan to revitalize a major Peoria park". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  31. ^ Collins, Skylar (2023-04-10). "Peoria celebrates park renovations". 25 News Now. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  32. ^ a b c Kravetz, Andy (2021-04-17). "Years in the making, this Peoria trail will now extend into the heart of the city". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  33. ^ "Illinois River Bluff Trail (Peoria)". LOCAL OPAL. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  34. ^ a b Muellerleile, Dean (2021-10-04). "Where the fall colors burn brightest: Here are prime spots for Peoria-area leaf peepers". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  35. ^ a b "Kinsey". Peoria Area Mountain. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
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