Latest news with #EmilyCahill
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Peoria Park District opens new inclusive playground in West Peoria
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Children of all abilities now have a place to play at Fransiscan Recreation complex, thanks to Peoria Park District. The new playground includes a cliff wall, nature discovery table, interactive play panels like the letters maze and tic-tac-toe and much more. The sound of kids' laughter filled the air in and near the playground as a handful of kids got the first crack at the new playground. Their parents stood by, watching and enjoying the sights and sounds. Emily Cahill, the district's executive director, is glad to be able to work with the community in order to provide for the children. 'It's an opportunity for us to bring some new life to this park, which is well loved, lots of sports, a walking track that is used all the time,' she said during a mid-day press conference attended by the officials from the district and the city of West Peoria. It took roughly a year of community involvement, planning and design to get to this point. While parks within the park district are ADA compliant, Cahill said that out of the 42 total playgrounds, there are still more than a few that need to be fully replaced due to wear and tear and their age. 'We probably have somewhere in the range of 12 to 15 that need that full blown replacement and we have others that we're working on elements,' she said. Children's Museum in Peoria Celebrates a Decade Serving the Community A district priority is to be welcoming to all people, regardless of ability or age. 'One of our priorities is to make sure, as we talk about being welcoming to all that we mean to all,' she said. 'So really prioritizing this inclusion effort, making sure that we are representative and accessible to everyone, regardless of their physical ability, is something that we have prioritized and will continue to prioritize.' The district is working with smaller communities in the area to update or upgrade playgrounds that need it. Cahill even went as far as to say that Columbia Park on McClure Avenue could have a new playground sooner rather than later. 'We're really focusing in on those areas that need the most attention first, and then we'll work through you'll see new playgrounds at Columbia by the end of the year.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Peoria Park District seek input on new playground design
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — The Peoria Park District is asking the public to share their input on the future design of the Columbia Park playground. Park district staff and the Board of Trustees are asking the public to review and provide feedback on three proposed playground concepts, Park District Executive Director Emily Cahill said. 'We're asking the public to share their feedback and help us choose one of three concepts,' said Cahill. 'We are especially grateful to the City of Peoria for helping to fund this project through a Community Development Block Grant, and we want to ensure that those who consider Columbia Park their neighborhood park have a chance to shape its future.' The total cost of the project is expected to be $475,000, with construction expected to be completed by the end of the year. People interested in participating in the online survey to provide input can do so here. A public hearing will also be held at the park on June 10 from 5 to 6 p.m. Community members will be able to view the designs in person and share their thoughts directly with district staff. Feedback will be accepted through June 13. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What to know about major upgrades coming to the Peoria Park District
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — As summer nears, the Peoria Park District shared updates on some major projects and the progress made. One project the district has been overseeing is some updates to the Golf Learning Center, which will bring a Top Golf-like experience, said Emily Cahill, the park district's executive director. It will be a two-story driving range that will use the same software, provided by Top Tracer, that is seen in Top Golf's around the country. 'It is that Top Golf-like experience. It's actually the same software and play experience you would have if you went to a Top Golf, it's just in our 21-bay-sized facility,' she said. The facility will be run by the park district, and they are working to finalize a deal to bring in a local restaurateur to bring food and drinks to the new facility. The overall project will cost for the new structure as well as renovations will cost about $6.5 million. $5 million of that cost will come from grants through the state and the rest including operating costs will come from the park district. She said they hope that the new experience will be ready to go by Labor Day. Cahill also said that, along with the new structure, they will be renovating the inside of the golf learning center building to include some party rooms, a restaurant as well as two golf simulators that can be rented out. The second update Cahill had, was on the new Lakeview Splash Pad and demolition of the old pool which has finally be demolished. It's been closed since 2018. Cahill said it was just time and it needed to go. When it comes to the splash pad at the park, construction had been slowed due to all the rain the city had seen, but she is confident it will be up and operational by mid-July. A big reason for the decision to bring a splash pad was the need in the central part of the city to have a water feature for people to enjoy. 'So when we closed the pool, we knew that the central part of the community needed access to water and looking at just what our opportunities were, a splash pad makes a lot of sense for us because it is something that doesn't require lifeguards,' she said, reducing the cost to the district. Splash pads also have a longer season of operation than a regular pool. That's because the start of school means the teenage work force has to quit and thus, causing it to close in early August. But a splash pad can remain open and is about 10% cheaper to operate than a pool, she said. 'So it's an opportunity for us to provide that experience, let kids and families run around, have a great time, but not have the significant costs that come with a swimming pool,' Cahill said. The splash pad will cost about $1 million with its costs covered by a state grant that also pays for outdoor bathrooms. The last project with the district is renovation of its venerable ice rink, Owens Center, and replacing some of the machinery that chills water to make the ice. Right now, the Owens Center is under a six-week closure that will allow them to do maintenance to the rinks, such as painting the lines, fix leaks as well as general repairs. These repairs are to help the ice rink make it until they can begin to replace the system that freezes the ice as required by government mandate. 'So everybody in the country, including the Civic Center, has to change out the plant that they have that makes the ice frozen,' Cahill said. 'Everybody was using a product that's no longer allowable by the federal government. So we all have to switch to a new system that's more environmentally friendly. That switch for us will take place sometime in early 2027.' Along with changing of the ice plant, Cahill said that they are also planning to completely renovate the Owens Center interior starting in 2026. Part of the renovations will include better food and drink options than their current concession stand, as well as making viewing for friends and family better, and even renovating locker rooms. All together, the Owens Center renovations will cost the park district around $15 million. Cahill said a big factor in their decisions to take on these projects was to bring more fun things for people who live in the community. 'Experiences are what people are after more than things these days. And so to be able to, in your own backyard, visit a zoo where you see animals from all over the world, go to a world-class children's museum, be able to ice skate at our renovated ice center, be able to go to splash pads or pools or to walk on more than 50 miles of trails,' she said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Work begins on delayed splash pad at Lakeview Park. Here's when its expected to open
A cold, wet winter and early spring, along with delays in planning and obtaining permits pushed back the opening of a splash pad at Peoria's Lakeview Park. But Peoria Park District executive director Emily Cahill said construction is moving along, and she hopes the splash pad will be completed by mid-summer. 'This will be a centrally located splash pad that will engage and entertain,' Cahill added. 'Its placement next to our Lakeview Summer Camp will also provide a great way for those participants to enjoy outdoor water experiences without having to bus kids to a different location.' The splash pad will replace the Lakeview Family Aquatic Center, which closed permanently after the 2017 season. It will be located between the Owens Ice Center and the Lakeview Recreation Center. In addition to the large splash pad, the facility also will feature a shelter, swings and easily accessible restrooms. According to a May 2024 Peoria Park District news release, splash pads are traditionally open from Memorial Day to Labor Day each year, extending the swimming season beyond that of conventional public pools. In 2023, after the Illinois Department of Natural Resources awarded the park district a $600,000 Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant to support development at Lakeview Park, Cahill projected a 'best case' scenario of last summer for the splash pad to be in operation. The Park District's May 2024 news release said the targeted completion date was spring of 2025. The district held a public input period last May to allow patrons an opportunity to offer design preferences. Once the splash pad is up and running, it will be open from dawn to dusk, Cahill said. There will be no admission charge. The district also operates splash pads at Proctor Recreation Center and Logan Park, as well as outdoor swimming pools at Gwynn Family Aquatic Center and Proctor Recreation Center. This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria Park District set to open Lakeview Park splash pad by mid-summer 2025
