New recreational center gets green light from Peoria City Council

PEORIA ( 25News Now ) - Peoria is one step closer to seeing a new recreational center.

On Tuesday, the Peoria City Council unanimously agreed to move forward with a recreational center complete with a go-kart track, mini-golf course, and restaurant off Orange Prairie Road in North Peoria, with a condition around safety.

However, several council members urged Mark and Diane Larson, the property owners and developers of the center, to provide security for the place to avoid youth violence after hearing concerns from neighbors in the area.

Dan Hellige, a resident who lives near the property, said his daughter witnessed one of the riots at the now-closed Round One and worries the park will bring down his property value.

"Would you want to live next to a big-dog speedway? Or a racetrack, a go-kart track?" asked Hellige. "Would you want that in your neighborhood? What would that do to your property value? We all believe it will go down."

There was one neighbor who supported the park and was not worried about any threats to the community.

"I'm to the north of where this facility would be," he said. "Basically in my backyard, several hundred feet, of course, I'm okay with it. It's not going to disturb me and my wife, and my kids are grown."

Initially, the Larsons were not concerned about security, but they agreed to meet with the police chief to discuss plans for the protection.

"I'm not opposed. I want to run the safest place that we can for the community. Peoria should be able to have a place to come and join together," said Diane Larson. "If that means that I have to hire a couple of security guys to hang around and enforce rules, I'm not opposed to that at all."

The Larsons also said they hope to have a soft opening in 2025.