News & Events

After a major manufacturing company abandoned a large part of East Peoria near the Illinois River, the City set about reclaiming the concrete rubble to create a new downtown, the Levee District. It’s now home to many restaurants, retail shops, medical offices, hotels, and more. However, one element thought necessary to assure the long-term sustainability of the new downtown was missing – a community park.  One and half acres were reserved for public purposes – for a community park called Levee Park. The City of East Peoria owns the land, and the East Peoria Community Foundation is raising funds to build the park.

We don't often have an opportunity to shape the future, but that’s what's happening in East Peoria … and a new park – Levee Park – is at the center of all that. East Peoria is being reborn. We can all appreciate parks and the value of public spaces, but what's special and unique here is that Levee Park will become the anchor to East Peoria's new and thriving downtown. It not only anchors our beautiful downtown, but embodies the new iconic face of East Peoria, green, growing, and family centered.

The East Peoria Community Foundation was established in 2014 with the goal of becoming a non-profit resource for developing amenities within the East Peoria community. The Foundation is a 501(C)(3) organization independent of traditional city services and is governed by a Board of Directors. The Foundation was tasked to bring about Levee Park in the heart of East Peoria’s Levee District.

In addition to our efforts to build Levee Park, the Foundation has been busy fulfilling community philanthropy. The Foundation served as the fund-raising arm for volunteers to bring the Vietnam Traveling Wall to East Peoria. And, thanks to a grant from Caterpillar Inc., the Foundation administered funds from the grant to assist with COVID-related hunger needs.

Donations can be made to the Foundation to help build Levee Park or designated for specific causes or for general community-related projects. Please contact the Foundation directly if you want to establish a restricted fund.