Danville’s David S. Palmer Arena is receiving $500,000 in Infrastructure Improvement Grant funding from the new state budget, and the celebration took place late Tuesday (Oct 13) morning in a Palmer Arena conference room. Speaking with CIMG afterwards, State Senator Paul Faraci stated that he led the effort on making this happen because of the effort he sees from arena general manager Teri Gaffney.
AUDIO: I was at a meeting with her, and they presented their plan and their efforts, and I said “I need to be behind this.” And that was easily, maybe even more, two years ago when I realized that we needed to get more involved, and make sure that they were successful in reinvigorating and reinventing this facility.
(First Picture) County Board Chair Steve Miller shares some history about State Senator Max Coffey’s role in getting the Danville Civic Center started. (Second Picture) Board Vice-President Dean Shore and President Jakob Dazey unveil the new David S. Palmer Arena logo (in back). (Third Picture) A new tribute picture for Mayor David S. Palmer.
A major part of this funding will be going towards brand new seating at the Palmer Arena, a project the board will be bidding out for. But as Palmer Arena Board President Jakob Dazey pointed out; once it was known that this funding was coming, other funding was able to be reallocated. And one thing they’ll be putting in, probably next spring when the hockey is all finished, will be a brand new special “Ten Sport Floor.” Dazey says he envisions AAU tournaments and more coming Danville’s way.
AUDIO: Indoor soccer, basketball, pickleball, tennis, badminton, volleyball, gymnastics, cheer; it can do pretty much anything. We can also utilize our chairs; it is scratch proof. It also has a built in anti-bacterial chemical within the floor, which keeps it essentially clean.
ABOVE: State Rep Brandun Schweizer, Palmer Arena Executive Director Teri Gaffney, and Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr take their turns speaking.
And in just another part of their plans for being more of a community leader, those who used to use the Village Mall for indoor walking will be able to do the same at the Palmer Arena. Executive Director Gaffney says hopefully that will happen once the new floor’s in place next year.
AUDIO: Hopefully in 2027 we’ll be able to have this new floor in; and then start for the walkers, yes.
Danville’s Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr stated that with the busy events coming to the Palmer Arena, such as the recent rodeo, the new seating and arena improvements are just in time.
AUDIO: If we’re going to have all of these awesome events, and they’ve been bringing tons of really awesome events to the community, then we’ve really got to have a good place for people to sit. So this is a huge help in making that happen.
And with Senator Faraci having pushed for this funding, Vermilion County Board Chair Steve Miller reminded everyone that it was another state senator representing this area, Max Coffey, who made the push for the legislation creating the Danville Civic Center. Miller recalled that Coffey, from the Charleston area, became a senator in 1976, after becoming a state representative in 1974.
AUDIO: He actually beat Jim Edgar for a place in the legislature, Jim Edgar’s only defeat. Then in 1976, he was elected state senator. He was approached by local supporters to get behind the project, and have the legislative approval secured. Senator Coffey did do that.
(Middle Picture) State Senator Paul Faraci greets State Rep Brandun Schweizer as he takes the state to speak.
