THE FOLLOWING IS A NEWS-GAZETTE STORY BY JENNIFER BAILEY
ABOVE: The proposed park for Downtown Hoopeston.
HOOPESTON — Retired attorney and 55-year Hoopeston resident Dick Doyle is excited to work with the city on a new recreational park in downtown Hoopeston.
With a large open space now along East Main Street downtown, from the east wall of Bricks & Ivy Sports where unsalvageable and condemned buildings including his former part-time law office were razed, Doyle presented a video with ideas to Hoopeston officials this week to applause, and the city is dedicated to possibly pursuing it, too.
“The council and the audience after the video loved the idea,” Doyle said. Another meeting has been set for next week to further talk about the park plans.
According to Hoopeston Mayor Jeff Wise, Doyle gave his presentation, which included a video, about his vision for the future of downtown Hoopeston. No action was taken, but Wise has agreed to meet with Doyle to further discuss the proposal.
Doyle said the Hoopeston Square park would be located off East Main Street and South Market Street where the buildings have been torn down.
He envisions additional recreation opportunities for local residents and visitors to the city such as bocce ball, an ice-skating rink, four pickleball courts, cornhole, horseshoes pits, shuffleboard, a splash pad, stage, dance floor, bistro tables, picnic tables, a pavilion and restrooms.
It will take some time, likely a few years, to raise funding estimated at close to half a million dollars, for the infrastructure, in addition to construction, Doyle said.
He said he will be getting the city’s help pinning down cost estimates.
He said the park would be “used for drawing people and families together and downtown for communal efforts.”
Doyle sees coordination occurring with Visit Downtown Hoopeston Inc., the city, the Lorraine Theatre foundation and others to make this beneficial for all and to be used for community events.
The adjacent street can be closed off too for parties, car shows, food trucks and events, he added.
“We’re trying to get people downtown and provide for all kinds of games,” Doyle said of the park.
The pickleball courts, for example, could bring tournaments to Hoopeston.
“We know that’s going to be popular,” Doyle said.
Bocce ball also is growing and will be coming to this area more, he added. That court would bring people who are bocce ball aficionados.
Youngsters could run through the splash pad during hot summers. There also could be a portable stage and a large dance floor opened up with bistro tables around it, Doyle said.
Some items at the park are proposed to be permanent, and some movable. He added that the picnic tables could be removed for ice skating in the winter. The rink could be a good size and use synthetic ice to be used anytime.
Artificial grass also could help cut down on maintenance of the site.
“It’s a huge area,” Doyle said about the entire space that likely would not be otherwise easy to develop, and they’ll use part of the alleyways too.
He said in addition to the city’s commitment, they will be seeking grants and contributions for the project from businesses and individuals.
He wants the downtown to be thriving with people all the time again.
“When I first came to Hoopeston, it was a happening town. It was busy all the summertime. There were two jewelry stores, clothing stores and grocery and every you could want downtown,” Doyle said.
But then factories closed and moved out, he said.
He said Hoopeston is a town that has to have more people in it. It’s looking to attract families wanting peace and quiet in a small town, people who work from home and visitors too to their businesses.
With excitement already brewing for the return of movies to Lorraine Theatre and the existing wonderful businesses such as 112 Wine and Coffee Shoppe and Boxcar Books and Vinyl, Doyle looks forward to the community’s joint efforts for further downtown revitalization.
FOR COMPLETE ACCESS TO NEWS-GAZETTE STORY PLEASE GO TO https://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/parks-recreation/longtime-hoopeston-resident-proposes-new-downtown-park/article_c22c0390-7512-11ef-97cb-67ba0d5ef365.html
