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Peoria County staff present detailed design for Main Street courthouse plaza renovation; bid award expected next month
Summary
County staff unveiled detailed designs for a multi-area renovation of the Main Street courthouse plaza including a new recirculating fountain, permeable pavers, irrigation and electrical upgrades, programmable parapet lighting and permanent seating with bronze bison sculptures.
Peoria County staff presented the design package and concept drawings for a multi-phase renovation of the Main Street courthouse plaza and surrounding block. The presentation, led by a county project manager, covered five construction areas, irrigation and electrical upgrades, replacement of the lower fountain with recirculating jets, new permeable pavers, permanent seating, and public-safety bollards.
Staff said the project is being delivered under a construction manager-at-risk arrangement and will return to the board next month with a recommended bid award and a budget true-up for construction divisions. The design shows removal of the existing fountain, replacement with a fountain that uses recirculating pumps and a subsurface reservoir, and lower plaza areas with prairie-grass planting, boulder features and life-size cast-bronze bison sculptures in adult and juvenile sizes.
Presentation materials show moving the Lincoln statue slightly farther from Jefferson Street (an estimated 10–30 feet) while keeping it in a prominent plaza location. Staff also proposed removing holiday string lighting from existing trees and equipping the courthouse parapet with programmable LED lighting (similar in concept to the Murray Baker Bridge) to allow color changes for events. The bid specifications include irrigation and electrical upgrades across all areas and an alternate bid to repave the entire paved area if budget permits.
Board members asked about fountain lighting and whether lighting features could be coordinated with the city and be programmable; staff said fountain and up-lighting are included in the design details and that coordination with the city is possible. A board member suggested reusing existing bluestone and limestone materials where practical; staff said they will consult the county sustainability coordinator on potential reuse. Another member urged ensuring bollards are capable of programmable LED color changes if the board moves ahead with color lighting on the building.
Staff emphasized the project will return for a bid award at the regular meeting next month and that construction phasing and alternates will be refined as bids come in.
