LaSalle's Rotary Park

About 15 years ago, Illinois Cement, one of LaSalle's major industries, committed to donating their quarry to the city for a park. At the time, a diorama was created showing a lake and paths, and I think some wondered if this would ever actually become reality. Well, it seems that day is now approaching. Thanks to Illinois Cement following through on their original commitment, the deed to transfer the property is already in the works. And LaSalle Rotary is taking up the lead of spearheading development of the area into an awesome city park - a park that one day might become one of the largest city parks in Illinois outside of Chicago.

Gary Gearhart, leading the LaSalle Rotary charge, had assembled a park committee that for some time had been looking for a park site to develop. After all their searching, they decided the Illinois Cement land was the most suitable site with the donated portion of the land amounting to about 110+ acres lying within the limits of the old quarry. Rotary also decided they will purchase about 52 additional acres of ground that was never quarried making the total area of the future park about 170+ acres.

The next step for LaSalle Rotary had been to develop concept plans. Gearhart managed to connect with the University of Illinois and was rewarded with a committment from their architectural department to allow one of their students to work with LaSalle Rotary to develop that plan. Enter Tony Morelli, an exceptional student with great vision, design, and presentation skills who also happens to be from nearby Ottawa, Ill. This young man has managed to listen to all the ideas and create an exciting vision for the future use of this land which includes a 20+ acre lake, a section of river, miles of paths, ball diamonds, soccer fields, dog parks, sledding, and cross-country skiing.

The public can follow the development of this park by visiting a Website set up by Morelli using pbwiki at lasallepark.pbwiki.com.