Scovill Park West Activity Center
The Decatur Park District has been awarded $2.8 million from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) PARC Grant Program. This grant from the IDNR will provide a newly constructed facility specifically designed for seniors. This will increase recreational opportunities, program offerings, and expand access for the social services that our Seniors so desperately need in the Decatur community.
The new Senior Center will feature a range of activities to serve an array of interests, expectations, and needs for our community’s maturing population. As of November 2023, the Macon County Senior Center and the Decatur Park District Senior Center combined to offer all services in one location and they have quickly outgrown their current facility. This new space will not only offer daily exercise programs and activities like art classes, lectures, music enrichment, cards, games, and meal service but also critical services such as counseling for senior health insurance programs, agency referrals, and other important services. The goal is to provide a one-stop shop for seniors in Decatur and Macon County.
Along with the announcement of the $2.8 million dollar grant, the Decatur Park District is excited to announce that once this new facility is constructed, we can further expand our “one stop shop” for seniors, by partnering with CHELP, the Community Home Environment Learning Project to provide additional social services to our seniors. CHELP provides Home Care Services (both state subsidized and private pay), Adult Protective Services, Senior Access to Care/Information and Referral Services as well as they facilitate the Dementia Friendly Decatur initiative.
- Donate to the new Scovill Park West Senior Center by contacting Aly at adelatte@decparks.com or call 217-422-5911.
New Exhibit at Scovill Zoo
On Wednesday, November 15th 2023, the Decatur Park District Board of Commissioners approved an agreement to construct a new Mountain Lion Exhibit and Camel Holding Building at Scovill Zoo. This new one-thousand square foot exhibit will include rock outcroppings, ponds, caves, a glass viewing area for patrons, and an interactive area where zookeepers can feed and train the mountain lions.
Going by several names such as: puma, cougar, and panther, the mountain lion can grow up to seven feet long and weigh 150 pounds. These cats can leap 18 feet up into trees and are good sprinters in short distances.
Also included in the project is a new animal holding building that will house the mountain lions when not on exhibit and a new indoor holding space for the existing camels, Jack and Fin, at Scovill Zoo.
Funding for this project came from private donations and construction is expected to be completed by 2025.
Fairview Park Destination Playground & Sewer System
The City of Decatur is embarking on an important $16.5 million project to address the drainage issues in the area northeast of Fairview Park, south of Grand Ave, and west of Oakland Ave. Currently, the combined sanitary and storm sewer system in this area has resulted in frequent backups during wet weather, causing inconvenience for residents. To alleviate these problems, the city will be installing a new storm sewer system and separating the combined sewers. As part of this initiative, an 850′ section of the new sewer will need to be installed through Fairview Park, including underneath the park’s playground. The project is scheduled to begin early spring 2024 and is expected to be completed in under a month.
Fairview Park Destination Playground Upgrade: Once the new storm sewer system is in place, an exciting new destination playground will be installed in Fairview Park. This renovation will introduce innovative playground elements that have never been seen before in Decatur, providing a fresh and enriching experience for children and families. The installation of the playground will be carried out through the spring and summer of 2024, with the anticipated reopening of the playground in early fall.