On Friday, May 6, 2022 a group of about 20 urban planners from the APA-IL Illinois State Section kicked off the 2022 APA-ISS Spring Conference by attending a mobile workshop in the Peoria Area. The group toured two area properties that were being redeveloped by the KDB Group.
The first property was the Scottish Rite Theater, which was a performance theater originally built in the 1920’s. The KDB Group acquired the property in 2017, and has spent over $10 million redeveloping it. The KDB Group had a goal of preserving a historic theater, but also creating a multiplier for adjacent businesses that would see a positive economic impact from increased visits in the area.
The second stop on the mobile workshop was to Sankoty Lakes Resort in Spring Bay, IL, which is about a 15 minute drive from the Scottish Rite Theater. The KDB group partnered with a local property owner to redevelop an aging gravel pit. The KDB Group converted the gravel pits into a resort with man made lakes, which house one of the only man-made trout streams in the mid-west. The resort also contains glamorous camping tents or “Glamping” which allow guests to fish or swim in the lakes and streams. The property also has a restaurant with an outdoor patio that overlooks the lakes. The members of the mobile mobile workshop enjoyed a taco bar with churros, and a Q &A with the manager, Greg Birkland.
Register for the 2022 APA-ISS Spring Conference and/or Upcoming Mobile Workshops!
If the Peoria Mobile Workshop has you excited for more of what the APA-ISS has to offer in 2022, we have you covered!
2022 APA-ISS Spring Conference - May 12-13
The APA-ISS will be holding their annual Spring Conference on May 12-13, 2022. This virtual 2-day event is an inexpensive and convenient way to get the latest in downstate Illinois planning plus the perk of networking with Illinois colleagues from across the state.
The APA-ISS will offer recordings of all sessions and make CM available until 12-31-22! Registration will continue to be open until August 31, 2022.
2022 In-Person Mobile Workshops
What's really cool about this year is that along with 2-days of virtual sessions, registration for all in-person mobile workshops is included in your conference registration cost! If you're only interested in in-person mobile workshops, no problem, we'll offer separate registration for each event.
June 10, 2022 - Champaign - Urbana, IL - Boneyard Creek & Downtown Urbana Walking Tour
June 24, 2022 - Rockford, IL - Keith Creek Bike Tour
July 22, 2022 - Quincy, IL - Downtown & Mississippi Bridge Replacement Project
TBD - Alton, IL or Mascoutah Mid-America & Boeing, Madison County bike trails
TBD - Metropolis, IL - Planning Charette (tentative)
✔️ May 6, 2022 - Peoria, IL - Scottish Rite Theater & Sankoty Lakes Resort Tours
Stay tuned for links to register.