Pekin Rotary Park

One of Pekin Rotary Club’s major financial commitments of the past twenty-five years has been the support of the Pekin Park District’s development of a new neighborhood park. Over $20,000 has been donated to develop the old Garfield School block on North Eleventh Street in Pekin.

In February, 1988, the Pekin Park District presented a program to the Pekin Rotary Club, seeking the club’s support for the construction of a park at the site of the demolished Garfield School. In June of that year, $7,540 was donated for the purchase of playground equipment and a sign on North Eleventh Street naming the area as Rotary Park.

In the summer of 1989, Pekin Rotary Club conducted one luncheon meeting at the park to dedicate the completion of the basic construction, the newly installed playground equipment, and the Rotary Park sign. Park Board President Laurie Barra thanked the Pekin Rotary Club for its generosity.

The need for picnic and restroom facilities was obvious, and plans were developed by Park personnel to construct a picnic shelter. In June, 1992, the club donated $5,700 for the materials needed to build the facility, and in June, 1994, an additional $7,540 was contributed for the construction of restroom facilities as an extension of the picnic shelter.

Pekin Rotary Club’s total contribution for Rotary Park was $20,780, provided mainly from profits of the Marigold Festival pork chop fry.