Peoria - can anyone tell mr something about this city?

[linicx]

Peorians are very opinionated. Not everyone who is trapped in a small town and desperately wants to move is happy. Not everyone who is happy in Peoria wants to live in one of the small surrounding towns like Chillecothe. Not all Peorians want to move. Peorians are black, while, red, yeloow, brown and many other colors. Peorians are Left, Right and in the Center. Some owrk in union shops, some do not. Peorians practice many different faiths, have many different cultures and have ancient histories.

Not all new hirees stay at Caterpillar. CAT no longer pays $25/hr for an entry level job, nor does CAT provide the perks it did 30 years ago; those days are gone. Outsourcing killed the Golden Goose. Peoria is not tied to the shirttail of industry.

Yes, there are areas in Peoria that are sketchy and downright unsafe for a young woman who is not street smart. You don't learn that in a protected environment. Most of the crimes in Peoria are between families and gangs. Peoria is not Chicago. Steps have been taken to gain control of the gangs and drug activity; it's working.

The public schools are neither the worst nor the best. However the City has made strides to correct a great many small issues. It is still not Chicago. Many cities the size of Peoria have the same issues with 100 year old buildings and crowded classrooms. .

The Peoria area does not have Costco, Whole Foods or Trader Joe's. It is true residents go to Chicago or St.Louis for those stores. Between Peoria and B-N residents can find most of the national stores that are in Chicago, but on a snaller scale. You'll also find surprises like a 2010 Gold Medal winning park district, the only children's hospital in Centaral Illinois that is certified tertiary care, that is also the only hospital in Illinois associated with St. Jude's Research Hospital, Shriner's Hospital and Easter Seals. There is upscale shopping and dining, and all kinds of surprises like fresh sushi, 10 grocery stores and a handful of specialty food vendors -- if you investigate every nook and cranny and ask questions.

[linicx]

Since the original post much has happened. The loss of the opera and ballet companies is especially sad as children involved with arts when they are young do well thorough life. The 2010 projects were completed. The projects started in 2010 and projected to be finished in 2011 were completed except The Block museum. Hopefully it will be finished in 2012. Some commerciall traffic allowed on Washington and Water Street was diverted to create a wakable area in the old warehouse district. The buiildings that could be save were converted to green builldings. The others were replaced with a park like setting.

All Illinois public high schools (not private, religious or home school) are under a state watch for poor performance. It's a game tied to federal funding. Not every school in Illinois is wonderful or the worst. Most are what I call a "good, solid school, with average to good teachers". Most of these teachers are underpaid and not appreciated. To their credit they like children and they are in their schools for better or worse for the long haul. Peoria, the immediate Peoria area, and all public schools are all included in the list despite progress made.

The economy is slowly improving with a consistent drop in unemployment. Peoria unemployment continues to hover around 8%. Peoria is the third largest MSA in Illinois after St. Louis, and Chicago.

The only children's hospital that treats more children than OSF in Peoria is located in Chicago. Costco and Target will open new stores in E. Peoria is 2012. . The Merry-G0-Round is completely gone and the rebuilt area was renamed. The City hasn't figured out that although it can re-route streets and traffic, they can't change the past. As long as there is someone like me still around who remembers the Big 500, and Aiken alley they can't white wash it either.

[css9450]

Originally Posted by linicx

The Merry-G0-Round is completely gone and the rebuilt area was renamed.

What was that, a traffic circle? I don't remember that nickname.

I miss Peoria.

[linicx]

It was an ugly part of Peoria's history best forgotten. It was part of the alley behind Aiken Street.

Originally Posted by css9450

What was that, a traffic circle? I don't remember that nickname.

I miss Peoria.