(PEORIA, ILLINOIS) — It’s a new year. And I’ve got some extra time on my hands as I wrap up paternity leave, with my sweet angel baby just snoozing away.
I love to vision cast. I look at the world around me and constantly think about what improvements I think could be cool to see.
You might disagree with me, you might love my ideas! But as I did a few years ago, here is a list of 10 things I personally think could be beneficial to add to Peoria, Illinois.
1: Kids Play Cafe
This is a trendy concept seen in cities like St. Louis, Missouri and Phoenix, Arizona. It’s an affordable, public kids’ play zone that has a coffee shop/cafe inside of the building for the adults. This would be a great addition for families to experience, and allow both kids and adults to socialize in a fun atmosphere.
2: Raisin’ Cane’s
I’ve been saying this for years. Bring on Cane’s! Especially with the recent closures of other fast food chicken restaurants, bringing in a successful brand like Cane’s would be a good move.
3: More coffee options!
Did you know in the area of War Memorial and Big Hollow, that there are 3 Starbucks in roughly a quarter mile radius? There’s one right off War Memorial, one in Target, and one in Barnes and Noble. I’m not opposed to a Starbuck’s drink here and there, don’t get me wrong. But let’s get some variety! Not to add all the Dunkin’s in town. Supporting local shops like CxT, The Spot, Intuition and Zion are fantastic first options. But if we’re going to have a certain amount of chain-like coffee shops throughout the City, let’s add in Scooter’s, Caribou Coffee, Better Buzz and Dutch Bros just to name a few!
4: Skiing/sledding/tubing area
The closest places to go skiing are Rockford, Galena and St. Louis. That’s a 2-3 hour drive in the winter for those who love to ski, snowboard and tube. I’d love to see a “ski resort” type vibe come to Peoria, bringing more people to town during the cold months and giving our local residents a fun option.
5: Fun lodging options
With the closure of Sankoty Lakes in Spring Bay, I feel like a hole has been left in terms of really cool places to stay in the area. We’re lucky to have lodging at Wildlife Prairie Park which offers a super cool atmosphere, but central Illinois is a pretty wide area and could use some more options other than just hotels and Air BnBs.
6: Peoria City soccer stadium
Of course I’ve got to throw some love to Peoria City, our local USL League Two and Women’s Premier Soccer League franchises. Having our own stadium would be incredible! I envision the opportunity to host regional and statewide soccer tournaments, professional combines and other events year-round in a stadium like this.
7: A winery!
Whether it’s a downtown or Warehouse District brick and mortar, or someone taking over the property where Kickapoo Creek Winery was located, a winery in Peoria would be fun. Look at what Galena Cellars does in Galena, Illinois. Or Grafton Winery as well. They have both a rural winery and vineyard on the outskirts of town and a downtown wine bar and restaurant.
8: Some sort of amusement park
Waterparks and amusement parks are hard to come by. There’s a lot of upkeep, Peoria can have some harsh winters, so I understand the barriers that could arise. But I think in Peoria had something like Knight’s Action Park in Springfield or Raging Rivers in Grafton, Illinois – that could bring some people outside of our community in during the warmer months.
9: Frozen custard!
And I’m not talking Culver’s! While I do love me some Culver’s, something local would be fantastic! Frozen custard is a huge deal in St. Louis. You’ve got Ted Drewe’s, Fritz’s and Andy’s. Have one option in Peoria would be amazing.
10: Barbecue festival on the riverfront
To honor our local barbecue scene, let’s have a BBQ festival downtown on the riverfront. Paducah, Kentucky has a pretty solid festival from what I hear (I’m still trying to make it down for one). This would be a way for all the Central Illinois BBQ restaurants to showcase their products. I think we have plenty across the region to have a fantastic lineup.
11: An aquarium!
After visiting my college town, Springfield, Missouri, over the weekend – I had to add this to my list. The Wonders of Wildlife aquarium at Bass Pro Shops’ HQ is amazing. It’s so much fun for kids and families and is an amazing way for people to connect with nature and appreciate conservation. I could see something happening alongside the Peoria Riverfront Museum or Bass Pro here in East Peoria.
What do you think about my list? Do you have any other ideas? Drop me a comment on social media or on this article and let me know.
Matt Sheehan Official 