Presenter urges Oglesby to 'own' Starved Rock tourism to boost downtown economy

A presenter told a morning meeting in Oglesby that the city should capitalize on nearby Starved Rock State Park and other regional attractions to revive its downtown, recommending improved signage, targeted marketing and a single, consolidated brochure to funnel visitors into local businesses.

The presenter, who spoke after the opening remarks, said his team arrived unannounced and conducted "secret shopping" visits to assess Oglesby from the perspectives of residents, workers and visitors. He called for the city to "own" its location and use gateway signage, clearer wayfinding and promotional materials to convert park visitors into downtown customers. "You should be the city of the parks," the presenter said, arguing Oglesby is well placed to capture nearby park traffic.

Why it matters: The presenter cited regional visitation figures to show the opportunity. He said the nearby park system drew roughly "2,800,000 visitors last year," with monthly peaks of about 300,000 in May–September and a July record he described as roughly 400,000 visitors in a month. The presenter said those visitors spend multiple hours in the area and could be encouraged to spend time and money in downtown Oglesby with better signage, amenities and local promotion.

Details from the review: The team reported few online or map-driven cues that point people to Oglesby; at a rental-car counter some workers did not recognize the city name. The presenter recommended three lines of assessment—would someone want to live here, work here or visit here—and urged fixes to first impressions, including parking and restroom information, clearer restaurant signage and gateway wayfinding. He cited a local golf course that had good facilities but lacked clear exterior signage for its restaurant, recommending a sign "near the door" to invite visitors in.

Marketing and implementation ideas: The presenter urged producing a single "best of Oglesby and the Starved Rock area" brochure that highlights anchor tenants and visitor experiences rather than individual politics or favoritism. He described examples from Alpena and Ottawa where businesses paid modest fees to be included and where organizers subsidized struggling cultural institutions to ensure inclusion. The presenter said a brochure could be accompanied by criteria for inclusion and a modest fee structure to cover production.

Economic context: The presenter argued tourism now drives economic-development decisions because quality of life and placemaking attract talent and employers. He said tourism is a leading industry for small businesses in rural areas and can create family-wage jobs in hospitality and retail. He also warned of "retail leakage," noting many residents currently shop at large regional retailers outside Oglesby, and said capturing even a fraction of park visitors could help local businesses and assessed values.

What the transcript records (no formal action): The presentation was recorded in detail in the transcript but the session included no formal motions or votes on these recommendations. The transcript records the presenter offering examples and suggestions; it does not show council or staff commitments or a recorded decision on next steps.

The meeting continued with further discussion after the presentation; no formal adoption of a brochure program or funding was recorded in the provided transcript.