Vacant houses make way for South Peoria’s POTENT Gratitude Park

The demolition of three dilapidated houses in the 1500 block of W. Martin St. drew cheers from neighbors and community members early Tuesday morning.

They weren’t only celebrating the removal of a blighting presence across the street from the Proctor Center – but progress on a park concept more than two years in the making.

The newly empty land adjacent to Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church is set to become the POTENT Gratitude Park later this summer. The idea for the green space was borne from a discussion over lunch between Jones Bros. Jewelers owner Bob Woolsey, community member Hedy Elliott, and Pastor Alvin Riley, Sr.

Originally published by WCBU on 5/17/2022

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