By Taylor Fleming
PEORIA, Ill. (25 News) – A couple dozen concerned citizens gathered at Detweiller Playground Wednesday, hoping to prevent a possible land sale to O’Brien Steel.
As of Wednesday, the sale has not gone through. Citizens at Wednesday’s event are opposed to it, but the Detweiller Trust has told 25 News in the past that they need money from a potential sale to maintain what would be left of the property.
The citizens have several concerns about this, but one of their largest fears is losing access to Caroline Street.
JP O’Brien, the president of O’Brien Steel, told 25 News in March they don’t think there will be a need for Caroline Street to remain open because the road would dead end into their property if the sale goes through.
A group of neighbors who call themselves the Detweiller Playground Protectors said Caroline Street is an important point of access to the Rock Island Greenway Trail and the nearby river.
“We want a guarantee that that won’t be vacated. Even if they sold this land to O’Brien, I want that street kept open for public access. Because, this is how I access this trail,” said Tim Herold, a neighbor with Detweiller Playground Protectors.
The group shared emails obtained through a Freedom of Information Act Request with 25 News on Wednesday afternoon. The emails were verified with the Peoria City Clerk’s office.
In them, city staff and O’Brien Steel leaders were discussing a possible closure of Caroline Street in 2023. That year, City Manager Patrick Urich wrote to JP O’Brien, “I spoke with Andy Schneider of Detweiller Playground. He is open to the Caroline Street closure, but wants to make sure he has a good entrance off Spring.”
25 News is in the process of reaching out to Urich for comment.
The decision on whether or not to close the street ultimately rests with Peoria City Council. Council member Tim Riggenbach confirmed to 25 News Wednesday that the council has had no discussion on this topic.
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