@skutfarcus : If I'm not mistaken, it now also is the new home of the Creve Couer Club.

@AntiRanchDrssng :
The Creve Couer Club did relocate there fairly recently. They moved there from the Twin Towers. They might still have a temporary presence there. If so, it won't be for much longer.
Their old location on Jefferson St has been on the market since forever. Though there were a couple of times there were very, very interested parties in that building that never worked out,

I don't believe there is any plan to have Amtrak come to the old Rock Island Depot. I have heard (though it was a while ago) they want the new depot to be further south--perhaps where the downtown post office is now, and the post office would move.

@PeoriaChronicle :
In the old days, the train would stay in Peoria overnight and leave in the morning, Often times it would have to be moved because of freight train traffic and moved back into place for a 7am departure. If they develop a station further south, it seems there is enough room to operate things without having to move the train. This is all a work in progress.

@DennisinPeoria : Somewhere in that very close proximity, there is the Military Services Memorial Plaza. I ride past it cycling the riverfront parks. I can't help to think that is what the white circle is, but I could easily be mistaken. Take a look at this website to see its location and compare it to the maps posted above. If the CEFCU stage is moving there, it is going to be one heck of a tight squeeze.
www.waymarking.com/w aymarks/wmWN0C_Milit ary_Services_Memoria l_Plaza_Riverfr From this website:
"The plaza is semi-circular in shape and has a flag near the focus of the semi-circle. The flag is half-surrounded by five dark pillars, each with an emblem of a branch of the military. Surrounding this are stone and bronze plaques embedded in the ground and on a wall toward the back."

@AntiRanchDrssng : I see what you're saying, but I believe that War Memorial plaza is actually closer to the Riverplex. I shot some Scenic Route video there last year. I'm not aware of any other War Memorial in Festival Park per se.

@DennisinPeoria : I believe you are correct, but I think putting something the size of the current CEFCU stage where it is slated on the plans is really shoehorning it in next to that Memorial.Another thought: if it is built like the current one, that will take up a lot of available space for things like the blues festival or any other large concert that may be down there. Oh, well, not really my concern LOL

I'm wondering why it's necessary to move it. They have all the infrastructure there for power, lighting, sound--now they're going to take that out and move it a few yards? I'm just curious what their thinking is.

@AntiRanchDrssng :
Actually, I stand corrected. Looking at satellite view of Google Maps, comparing it to the design, that semicircle is the War Memorial. It appears the CEFCU stage would be replaced by the Art and Sound Garden. The time of the Google Maps view shows 2 stages set up for the Blues and Heritage Festival. One just to the NE of Gateway Building and one almost by the parking lot of Riverplex. So for regular concerts at Festival Park, seems a temporary stage that can be set up and torn down quickly might be the plan. But that's speculation on my part. We'll have to wait until the plan is unveiled to the Council July 25.

While I was in Austin Texas, the river front was outstanding. Why not look into what would be reasonable without gobbling a bunch of cars and buildings. That way when the floods did come the cost wouldn't be outstanding to save.

A boat launch downtown is a terrible idea. The current through that part of the river is generally too strong for rowers. You are going to have people drifting down to the dam. If you are going to kayak on the river, do it up in the 'lake' part of the river.

@Mahkno : I think the local rowing and kayaking clubs put it at the Ivy Club.

Has anyone seen the Naperville River Walk? It's on my bucket list but have heard and read great things about it. Any ideas from there that could possibly be used in Peoria?

Savannah, GA has a pretty good riverfront. A lot of the parking is about two blocks away in some parking decks, which in itself is pretty cool as one can see the bridge and out into the Atlantic from the top level.Ages ago, I thought taxpayers footed the bill for a group of governmental types to go to a few different great riverfront towns to get ideas. I'm sure those are in the Peoria County Landfill by now.

@skutfarcus : I have a friend who uses Detweiller Marina.