Peoria Standard

Peoria Park District Board met November 29.

Here is the minutes provided by the Board:

Members of the Board of Trustees of the Pleasure Driveway and Park District of Peoria attended a neighborhood meeting held at the Donovan Park Clubhouse. The meeting began at 6:10.

Trustees Present: Trustees Harant, Petty, and Johnson (arrived 6:25 p.m.).

Trustee Absent: Trustees Ryan, Snowden, Vice President Rayford, and President Cassidy.

Staff Present: Executive Director Cahill, Rebecca Fredrickson, Matt Freeman, Earl Swanson, J.D. Russell, Trish Blattenberger, and Carley Allensworth.

Others Present: JoAn Grane, 4607 Wingover, Peoria; Cinda Fairbanks, 1110 NE Glen Oak Avenue, Peoria; Becky OʼBrien, 497 E. High Point Terrace, Peoria; Lyn Schmidt, 728 E. Corrington, Peoria; Ken Davies, Peoria; J. Knight, 2523 W. Nebraska, Peoria; Arron McCall, 7109 N. Rakusa Drive, Peoria; A. Schord, 4623 Grandview Drive, Peoria; Jill Meints, 3915 N. Grandview Drive, Peoria; Fran Moss, 687 E. High Point Terrace, Peoria; Larry and Susan Herman, 5513 Montclair Avenue, Peoria; Shawna Musseman, 809 E. Marietta, Peoria Heights; Ric Gibons, 1110 W. Willow Lane, Peoria; Brian S., 5205 N. Montclair Avenue, Peoria; Dan Gray, 1807 W. Gaylord Avenue, Peoria; Carla Jockisch, 400 W. Wolf Road, Peoria; Lisa Heinz, 1729 W. Lamont, Peoria; Jannell Justice, 2232 SW Adams, Peoria; Bethany Mubu, 6145 N. OakPoint Court, Peoria; Frank Abder, 4720 Idlewood, Peoria; Holly Ward, 5047 N. Belmont Place, Peoria; Patti and Jon Ruge, 4406 Jewelwood, Peoria; Bill and Sheila Briasthe, 7107 N. Willow Bend Point, Peoria; David and Kathy Wright, 5027 N. Clarendon Place, Peoria Heights; David Brayan, Peoria Heights; Jason Miles, Peoria; Rob Fennell, Peoria; Chuck and Linda Kuhn, Peoria; Gary Nevhaus, Peoria; Doug and Eileen Leunig, Peoria; Tim Riggenbach, City of Peoria; Shannon Techie, City of Peoria; Jim Davis, 563 E. High Point, Peoria; Ross Black, City of Peoria; Mike and Cindy Vanen; Nick Johnson, Peoria Astronomical Society; Kelly Stonebock, 612 W. Albany Avenue, Peoria; Ted Johnson and Karen Hathaway, 3702 N. Harvard Avenue, Peoria; Tom Beranger, Peoria; Diane S., Peoria; Pat and Dan Whaler, 5108 N. Sunnyview Court, Peoria; Mary Cunningham, 119 East Embert, Peoria; Steve Fairbanks, 1110 NE Glen Oak Avenue, Peoria; Todd Ward, 5047 N. Belmont Place, Peoria; Katie Owens, 5504 Prospect Road, Peoria Heights; Dan and Violet Glynn, 13613 N. Colony Road, Dunlap; Phil Clay, 5711 N. Sheridan Road, Peoria; Emily Cotton, Keith Cotton, Cyd Henrikson, Laura Messner of Cydʼs Gourmet Kitchen.

Press Present: Matt Buedel, Peoria Journal Star; Larry Foulk, WEEK/WHOI-TV

Business: Discussion regarding Cydʼs Gourmet Kitchen leasing the building previously serving as the Donovan Park Clubhouse

Executive Director Emily Cahill welcomed members of the public to the neighborhood meeting regarding the potential lease between Cydʼs Gourmet Kitchen and the Peoria Park District. She also thanked Trustees Harant, Petty, and Johnson for attending the meeting on behalf of the Board of Trustees. She explained that this is a unique opportunity for both Cydʼs and the Park District to come together to make use of a building that would otherwise be vacant and at risk of eventually being torn down. Executive Director Cahill welcomed Emily Cotton of Cydʼs to take the floor and explain what they are planning to do with the space.

Emily Cotton explained that Cydʼs has been in business for thirty years in three different locations. She expressed excitement to combine forces with the Park District and looks forward to incorporating Park District programming into Cydʼs operation. Ms. Cotton also stated they are hoping to be able to become involved in other community programs held at Donovan Park, including events put on by local schools and the observatory. She stressed Cydʼs is not looking to change the function of the park. She also stated that their renovations and transformation of the current clubhouse at Donovan Park would be privately funded and no tax payer money would be used for the project.

The public raised questions, comments, and concerns which were answered by Executive Director Cahill, Emily Cotton, and various members of the Peoria Park District staff.

Upon completion of discussion, the meeting was concluded at 7:30 p.m.

https://www.peoriaparks.org/media/17-11-29-SPECIAL-MEETING-Minutes-Donovan.pdf