Peoria Zoo

The Peoria Zoo will be recognized as a leader in raising public awareness and commitment to conservation.

Outstanding Human Relations: Our visitors, staff and volunteers are vital to achieving our mission. They will be treated with the utmost respect and we will strive to make their connection with the zoo as enriching as possible.

Excellence in Animal Care: Our animals are ambassadors for wildlife conservation. We will promote innovations in husbandry and achieve the highest standards of animal care.

Connections through Education: Only through caring, will people make the choices and changes needed to save our natural resources. Our education programs will promote the knowledge and connections that are the key to caring.

Peoria Zoo Giraffes
 

Civic Center

The Peoria Civic Center is located in Peoria, IL. The PCC houses an Arena, Theater, Ballrooms, Exhibit Halls, and flexible meeting space and is home to Bradley University Braves men's basketball, the Peoria Rivermen Hockey team, the Peoria Symphony Orchestra and Peoria Ballet. The Peoria Civic Center is also home to Ameren Illinois Broadway In Peoria which features the best in Broadway in the heart of the Midwest.

Since opening in 1982, the Peoria Civic Center has housed thousands of events helping to drive business into the Downtown Peoria area. The latest addition to the Peoria Civic Center was the remodeling of the Great Hall and Exhibit Hall D in 2007, making the overall exhibit space totaling over 100,000 square feet.

 

Dozer Park

Official groundbreaking ceremonies for the $23 million multi-purpose stadium took place on August 16, 2001. The stadium opened on May 24, 2002 as O'Brien Field, with a game between the Chiefs and the Kane County Cougars.

In 2011, the stadium hosted to the IHSA Class 1A and 2A baseball state finals. This was the first year the games were played at the facility.

On May 10, 2013, Caterpillar and the Chiefs announced that the stadium would be renamed "Dozer Park", a reference to Caterpillar bulldozers.

 

Peoria Riverfront Museum

The only multidisciplinary museum of its kind in the nation, the Peoria Riverfront Museum uses art, science, history and achievement to inspire confidence, lifelong learning, and talent. Since opening in 2012, the privately funded museum has provided more than one million experiences through major exhibitions, a permanent collection, interactive galleries, a dome planetarium, giant screen theater and educational programming including curricula-related student visits. The AAM-accredited, Smithsonian-affiliated private nonprofit museum is supported by more than 4,000 members and donors, and is housed in a county-owned LEED Gold-certified building on a campus overlooking the Illinois River. The museum has been designated one of the 200 great places in Illinois by the American Institute of Architects.

 

Grandview Drive

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Grand View Drive is a 2.52 mile meandering pleasure driveway constructed in 1903. The “world’s most beautiful drive,” as President Theodore Roosevelt referred to it in a visit to Peoria in 1910, offers visitors numerous panoramic scenic views of the Illinois River Valley and the chance to view many historic and remarkable homes lining it. The linear park is especially beautiful in autumn, with the ever-changing colors of fall leaves. Grand View Drive has 1.75 miles of paved sidewalk for hiking.

Major portions of the road give a view of the Illinois River and its valley as well as clear views of some of the most prestigious and historic homes in the area. Come check out this amazing view!

 

Peoria Park District Parks

The oldest and largest park district in Illinois, the Peoria Park District encompasses nearly 60 square miles.  The value we provide to the community can be found in the ease of access to our parks and recreational programs.

Evidence has shown that when people have access to parks, recreational programs and to nature, their overall physical and psychological health improves.  The District’s own local community assessment survey found that 88% of residents believe the Peoria Park District is an important community partner for community health.