It's precarious for joggers and bike riders in Glen Oak Park

The very unfortunate fact that Glen Oak Park does not have a bike or pedestrian lane has always been a pain, but it was manageable, because you could ride your bike and/or jog in the street, around the inner circle (see orange line on photo), only coming out on the street as you pass the Zoo. Again, that scenario was precarious, but  it was manageable.

Now that Glen Oak Park, has the new Peoria Zoo, walking around that inner circle has become even more dangerous, because all roads now lead to the parking lot of the entrance to Africa at the Peoria Zoo and if you are jogging or riding your bike on the inner circle - you must go through the parking lot. (click on images to enlarge)

No pedestrian or bike lanes in Glen Oak Park, must walk across the new Zoo parking lot.

Riding bikes on grass in Glen Oak Park

At this point, in the development of the upper Glen Oak Park to accommodate the Peoria Zoo, I don't even see where they could add a bike or pedestrian lane. Very disappointing development for a inner city park.

What are we going do for those kids looking for fun?

When you were a kid growing up in Peoria what were some of the things you did for fun?

We used to be able to go to the YWCA (girls) or the YMCA (boys) downtown and play sports, when there was nothing else to do. We used to walk (in groups) to Peoria High School to go swimming. In the evening we would go to Proctor Center or Averyville to play/watch baseball. When we wanted to party we would go to Stenson Hall or Teen Disco and yes we went to PLENTY of house parties.

The activies above were what most of the kids in Central Peoria, the Valley and East Bluff did on the regular. The kids on the South end of town had even more opportunities to "play" and be kids - they had more access to programs.

I personally remember a huge void being created in our community when somebody made the decision to close the YMCA and the YWCA. YMCAs throughout the country are known for enabling people and communities to learn, grow and thrive - they belong in the inner city.

Now we have the Riverplex - sitting right in the backyard of the children who need it the most - but they can't afford to go there. It costs $7-$10 to play basketball and it costs $5 or more to swim. They took the YMCA and moved it so far North that it does not serve any inner city children.

We hear talk about programs out there for kids to join. Programs have requirements parents have to meet and they have limits on how many kids they can take. What happens with all of the other kids who don't fit the requirements, or those shut out because there is no more room? You see them in the street - doing the best they can to find something to do.

bookgirl June 25, 2011 at 11:54 pm
We recently attended a Peoria Muni band concert in Glen Oak Park, on a Sunday evening, and were stunned at the number of young black men who were in what we felt like were menacing, threatening groups, roaming around the park. If this kind of behavior is not stopped, Peoria stands to lose a lot of business from those who live out of town but come to Peoria for shopping and cultural events. -Peoria Chronicle-

I was at Glen Oak Park the other evening. There were A LOT of kids in the park. They were minding their own business - standing in groups talking; walking around the park talking. Just in the park. There is nothing wrong with that, it's their park too and if there is nothing to do but hang out - they have a right to hang out.

Thanks to Kim Behrens from Central Illinois Proud for getting out of the office and talking to some people about what actually happened the other night. What did she find out - kids in Peoria are bored out of their minds and desperate for something to do:

Brooklynn Smith-Brown says some of her friends were there. "I guess people were supposed to fight at the party, so they kicked everybody out. So they went outside and were going to fight and met other people," Smith-Brown explains.

She says unruly behavior isn't uncommon. "Some people get aggravated. Like, if you're at a party and it's packed, somebody bumps into you, you get mad...I do," says Smith-Brown.

"I think it's just because they want popularity, or they want someone to notice them, or they do it just to fit in, or just to seem cool," says Kiyana Brown.

Kyle Washington says problems arise because nothing else is going on. "Just to do something...just have something to do," says Washington. "They haven't had anything to do for so long," adds Brown. "So they act up."

While the students say there's not much to do in the community, their involvement in school sports helps keep them off the streets and keeps their head in the game.

"I'm with the basketball team. We all just hang together. Kick it," said Washington. "I put myself around people that are cool, calm, collected," adds Smith-Brown. "Not all with the drama and all that."

Teens say teamwork and friendly competition create the right kind of pressure. The kind that keeps them out of trouble. "It just keeps you active, and you don't really have to go to those types of things," said Washington.

These kids are not looking for people to hurt or damage to do. These kids are looking for a life - for fun. We know that on most occasions when kids are in large groups unchaperoned or without a planned activity - it's gonna get stupid. It can quickly go from kids being kids to kids being a nuisance.

Our youngsters here in Peoria have had clear indicators that they are not considered "good company". They know that for the most part, most people in the city don't want them around. Most of the community calls it a great day when we have a local event and there are no black children around.

Just one more way in which Peoria's chickens have come home to roost.