I was about to post what we aired yesterday, including closeups of the graphics, but yours looks good. I'm just surprised they proposed moving the CEFCU stage further back in Festival Park, and putting another parking lot next to Gateway building (where some big festival stages have been set up at). But an Art and Sound garden could be interesting. Even if everything is approved, funds are secured, bids let out, bids approved, I don't anticipate construction to start for maybe 2 years.

I walked my dogs down here for years. With all that has to make this happen. One flood and we have to save the front. Here what would it take for you to go down to the river front for entertainment? Parks, parking?

Part of the proposal includes flood mitigation. It history has shown us that the River Station gets flooded first, then then grassy area; in years past, it's reached up across Water Street to the entrance to what was Sears. I'm just not sure $300k is going to be enough, but let's wait until it's discussed by Council July 25.

A bit too much parking, the last thing downtown needs it more parking spaces.

@DennisinPeoria : I don't even see CEFCU Center Stage on the artist's rendering... Am I missing it?

@PeoriaChronicle : In the picture showing Festival Grounds, there's a half white circle near the bottom almost next to the river. That is where the stage is being moved to, supposedly. Whether CEFCU will still have naming rights is unknown.

@DennisinPeoria : Thanks. Interesting....

Where's the new train station?

@mypeez :
I was wondering the same thing and I I missed it at first glance. However, there is something marked Depot Building which I presume will be the new train station.

@billybob : Isn't that the old station that house Martini's and Blue Duck?

At first I thought it was. Second look at it, maybe not. Otherwise, I think it would have marked with the names of the restaurants. Are restaurants going to be displaced if that is going to be converted back train station? If so, why isn't the potential new station shown on the drawings? Lots of answered questions here.
On a positive note, delighted to see there will be a dog park. That should be quite popular for people moving into downtown and the day trippers that come in from around the area to walk their dogs and take in the views from there.

@billybob : Where is it?

Here's a side-by-side comparison with the streets aligned. As you can see, the "Depot Building" is indeed the old River Station/Rock Island Depot. There really isn't a lot of change being envisioned here. They're getting rid of CEFCU Center Stage (surprising) to make that more green space, but adding some parking where Riverfront Village used to be, which is currently green space. So that's a swap and the loss of a stage venue. Not sure of the value added there. The rest of it is just landscaping.

@skutfarcus :
When I fist looked at the drawings I saw Depot Building and thought that was the current station building with restaurants Later, on the second look at the drawings, I thought maybe it was the proposed site of a new station building. Now I am more confused.
What happens to the restaurants if that building does become a station again? Is there space in that old station building for both the restaurants and a new station? Something tells me probably not. We will have to wait for the presentation of the plans at the meeting.

In feasibility studies, consultants said the the RiverStation, post office, and Gateway building were on the wrong side of the tracks (which I don't understand unless you are running late and can't get around the train; heck, it worked before) and the Caterpillar Parking lot is the best option. This may explain why all the additional parking is planned for the park.