26-05-2025
Peoria County Courthouse to undergo plaza construction starting Tuesday
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — The back of the Peoria County Courthouse is going to look vastly different after scheduled renovations.
Starting on Tuesday, construction is set to begin on the courthouse's plaza, which will bring a 'transformational' new look, Scott Sorrel, the county administrator, said.
The $6.6 million project approved by the Peoria County Board will usher in a water structure similar to a splash pad with a cast bronze bison and a black granite waterfall.
Inscribed on the waterfall will be phrases from President Abraham Lincoln's speech in Peoria from 1854. You will be able to sit on the structure as well, when it's not running water.
Peoria Courthouse Plaza could have 'transformational' makeover by the fall
Another feature that would be a result of construction is LED lights that will line the top of the courthouse that will look similar to what the Murray Baker Bridge has.
The World War I and World War II Memorial and the Final Salute Memorial will not be accessible during the construction timeline.
CORE Construction is at the helm of the project, and they expect it to be completed by the fall.
Two reasons why the project is slated for an autumn completion include the city's bicentennial schedule and the possible trial of former Sangamon County Sheriff's deputy Sean Grayson, who allegedly shot and killed Springfield resident Sonya Massey in July of last year.
A judge agreed to move the case from Springfield to Peoria two months ago due to pretrial publicity.
'We're going to have more people, whether it be a bigger jury pool or national media coverage or potentially bystanders that are advocating for justice in that trial, will be here,' Sorel said. 'We want to make sure that we've got a block and a plaza that can accommodate the increased number of people for that as well.'
There will be even more limited parking than there already is around the courthouse. Alternative parking includes the Hamilton Square parking deck and the Niagara parking deck.
A good chunk of that money, as well as other funds to fix up the exterior of the courthouse, comes from the American Rescue Plan Act money.
Beyond fountains, one can also expect better sidewalk lighting. There will be permeable pavers and new pavers that allow for water to seep into the ground rather than run off.
Some of the money will go to updating landscaping and lighting on the area along Jefferson Avenue. Others will go into improving the area at the intersection of Main and Jefferson.
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