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Riverside proclaims 2025 sesquicentennial; organizers outline year of events
Summary
Village President J. Douglas Pollock read a sesquicentennial proclamation and and village leaders reviewed opening ceremonies, thanked volunteers and announced a schedule of related events and community fundraising.
Village President J. Douglas Pollock read a proclamation declaring 2025 the Village of Riverside’s sesquicentennial and outlined a year of events to mark the village’s 150th anniversary.
The proclamation traced Riverside’s municipal history to the 1820s and noted the 1869 town plan by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux and Riverside’s 1970 national historic landmark designation. ‘‘I, J. Douglas Pollock, Village President, do hereby proclaim the year 2025 as the Village of Riverside sesquicentennial,’’ Pollock read aloud during the Jan. 16 meeting.
Why it matters: The proclamation frames a year-long set of commemorations and signals continued municipal support for programming that highlights Riverside’s Olmsted-era planning and preservation. Village staff said volunteer committees and multiple departments will support events through the year.
At the meeting officials and staff thanked volunteers and outside guests who attended the opening ceremony, including representatives from nearby municipalities and local school districts. Kimberly Richardson, vice president of the Illinois City/County Management Association, presented a plaque recognizing 100 years of professional village management and spoke about the council–manager form of government. ‘‘I am Kimberly Richardson. I am the current vice president of the association,’’ Richardson said, thanking Riverside for its history as an early adopter of the council–manager form.
Village Manager Jessica Francis and staff were credited for event planning and operations. The board also recognized a long list of staff and volunteers by name for roles in the opening events and reception.
Committee plans and fundraising: Ethan Sowell, the village clerk, briefed the board on next steps from the Riverside 150 committee. The committee will open an online auction of retired street signs beginning Jan. 20 and run a time capsule photo contest; the committee also published sponsorship materials and reported more than $2,800 raised from raffle and merchandise sales at the opening event.
Board and staffing notes: Pollock also noted a plaque presented by the Illinois City/County Management Association recognizing the village’s adoption of the council–manager form of government and thanked current and past village managers. Manager Francis asked the board to refer an inquiry about adding a land-acknowledgement statement on the village website to the Historical Commission for recommendation.
Looking ahead: The proclamation will be displayed publicly and the village has scheduled a series of sesquicentennial programs during 2025; the sesquicentennial committee will return to the board with specific event and sponsorship updates as the year progresses.
