Peoria City Manager Patrick Urich has proposed an alternative access route to the Detweiller Marina via Spring Street, should the current access point on Caroline Street become private due to a pending land sale. The potential sale of land near the Illinois River from the Detweiller Trust to O’Brien Steel has raised community concerns about losing river access and public green space.
Key Takeaways
- City Manager Patrick Urich suggests Spring Street as a potential alternative access point to Detweiller Marina.
- The proposed land sale to O’Brien Steel could lead to the vacation of Caroline Street, impacting marina access.
- Community members are concerned about the sale potentially contradicting the original public intent of the land, established in 1947.
- Urich emphasizes the city’s long-standing commitment to maintaining public riverfront access.
Marina Access Under Scrutiny
The potential sale of land adjacent to the Illinois River, currently owned by the Detweiller Trust, has sparked debate. O’Brien Steel is reportedly looking to acquire the property, which includes a parking lot and green space bordering railroad tracks. A significant point of contention is the potential closure of Caroline Street, the primary access to the Detweiller Marina.
City Manager Patrick Urich stated that while Caroline Street remains open for now, the city would explore options for public access via Spring Street if the sale proceeds and Caroline Street access is restricted. "If that sale goes through and access to the marina is closed off at Caroline Street, I think that it would be incumbent on the city to look at what we could do to provide access to the marina on Spring Street," Urich told WCBU.
Community Concerns and City’s Position
Critics of the sale argue that it may violate the original intentions of Tommy Detweiller, who bequeathed the land for public use in 1947. However, Urich expressed reservations about maintaining a street surrounded by industrial operations. "I know that many of the residents don’t want Caroline Street to be closed, but quite frankly, as the city manager, I’m not sure that we want to maintain a street that is surrounded on all three sides by an industrial business operation," he explained.
The city’s priority, according to Urich, remains ensuring public access to the riverfront. He noted that the proposed sale does not include riverfront property itself, but rather land that is currently a parking lot and green space. The city has invested significantly over the past 50 years in acquiring land along the Peoria riverfront to guarantee public access, stretching from the Bob Michel Bridge to Spring Street.
