By Andrea Arens
More than four years ago, the Village of Peotone conducted a CMAP study of desires for the town. The number one item on the wish list – a revitalized downtown.
Mayor Peter March, along with a committee of trustees, worked with Upland Design for years to come to the final product. The estimated cost was $3.5M, and the village received a $2.5M grant.
The streetscape design includes bump outs with planters and seated walls, paver inlays in sidewalks, trees with decorative grates, and new light poles.
While it’s not 100 percent complete, the streets are open to drive-through traffic after being closed for more than six months. The ribbon cutting was held on November 30, just before the community tree lighting hosted by Game On Bar & Grill.
Downtown Peotone was once, a long time ago, a bustling business corridor with every space occupied by a business. Years of lost businesses and crumbling infrastructure found a dwindling tax base and limited opportunities for growth.
According to Economic Impact Catalyst, revitalizing Main Street districts, along with attractions and experiences, will draw both residents and visitors to downtown and spur that economic development and revitalization desired for sustainability.
Peotone isn’t the first small town in the area to revitalize their downtown; Frankfort, Manteno, and Beecher all redeveloped their downtowns in the past decade, and all three have seen growth and businesses flourish in their area.
The hope is the same for Peotone.
With the new streetscape, some parking was lost but original plans for parallel parking and one way streets were scrapped after public scrutiny, mostly on social.
Mayor Peter March said as he cut the ribbon that the streetscape took a long time, but he thought it was well worth the wait.
The goal is for the streetscape to be complete before the Christmas in the Village event on December 14.