A portion of Caroline Street near the Peoria riverfront was dedicated in honor of Thomas H. Detweiller on Tuesday, June 23, with a group of local advocates reminding people of the importance of public access to the area in light of a fight over the land he bequeathed upon his death.
Thomas H. Detweiller Way was officially unveiled, spanning a portion of Caroline Street between Adams Street and Jefferson Avenue across from the headquarters of O’Brien Steel.
O’Brien, the Detweiller Playground Trust and local advocates known as the Detweiller Playground Protectors have been involved in a recent dispute over the future of Detweiller Marina, with the company seeking to build an expansion on the property after reaching a deal with the trust last year.
The advocates, with help from the Detweiller Marina Neighborhood Association, said the philanthropist and community leader, who died in 1947, had long been dedicated to ensuring the people of Peoria could readily access recreation along the riverfront, even going back to his gift of 700 acres in 1927 to help build Detweiller Park to the north.
“He left the land and assets that became the Detweiller Playground Trust property to the people of Peoria for recreation and public enjoyment,” said Tim Herold, a member of the Detweiller Marina Neighborhood Association and one of the leaders of the Detweiller Playground Protectors. “Together, these gifts represent a lifetime commitment to preserving open space and recreational opportunities for future generations.”
Little mention was made of the battle between the advocates and the trust during Tuesday’s event, but the subtext of the need to protect the land remained clear in the words and signs the advocates used, calling upon the city to protect as much of the Detweiller land as possible.
People could sign letters to Peoria Mayor Rita Ali and members of the Peoria City Council, calling upon them to find a way to purchase the land and ensure riverfront access for future generations.
Karrie Alms, another advocate with the Playground Protectors, said Detweiller’s generosity allowed for people to enjoy the riverfront.
“His charitable gifts reflected a belief that parks, playgrounds and river access improve quality of life for all residents,” Alms said. “He understood that public spaces bring people together regardless of age, background or income. His generosity created opportunities for families to enjoy the outdoors and build lasting memories.”
Another advocate, Julie Dodge, said that nearly 80 years after gifting the land to the people as part of his dying will, the vision he had for riverfront access continues to shape the area.
“The land we are standing on today directly reflects Thomas Detweiller’s vision and generosity,” Dodge said. “This riverfront property was specifically set aside so that the people of Peoria could enjoy access to the Illinois River for outdoor recreation. The marina, playground, open space and river access that exist here today are part of the legacy he left for the community.”
Herold said that dedicating the portion of Caroline Street to Detweiller was a good way for people to understand that his name was on more than just the larger park located to the north along Illinois Route 29.
“This honorary designation will help ensure that more people learn about the man behind the name,” Herold said. “By honoring his name here at the very location he chose to preserve for public recreation, we help ensure his story and his generosity will not be forgotten.”
The advocates were also joined by a family member of Detweiller’s, Keith Holtzman, who volunteered to help when he learned about the fight between them and the trust. He regaled the history of Detweiller’s presence in Peoria, dating back to when a Mennonite minister came to the Metamora area in 1829 and called upon his family to settle in the area.
This led to the arrival of Captain Henry Detweiller – the Civil War veteran for whom Detweiller Park is named for – in 1837, with both him and his son making a mark on Peoria in a variety of ways. Holtzman called upon people to learn more about the history of the land and to understand how fragile places like the marina can be.
“I’d like to encourage all of you to look deeper into your history, into your roots and realize the depth of what you have available here, and the very limited possibilities of ever being able to restore this if you lose it,” Holtzman said.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Portion of a Peoria street dedicated in honor of philanthropist
Reporting by Zach Roth, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Zach Roth, Peoria Journal Star | USA TODAY Network
