PEORIA (March 6, 2023) – Join us on Tuesday, March 7 at 9:30am for a brief press conference featuring Representative Jehan Gordon-Booth and representatives of the Peoria Park District who will share information about their latest collaboration focused on celebrating Peoria and the impact that events have on the local economy.
Festivals like Park-A-Palooza generate essential dollars for local business. For example, every year, Peoria’s local cultural festivals generate $1.5 million in local economic impact and nearly $90,000 in local sales tax. These dollars also contribute to vibrancy and are not often considered when fun events are promoted.
It is estimated that the three-day weekend of Park-A-Palooza will bring nearly $500,000 in local economic impact to our communities and marketing efforts will reach beyond a 50-mile radius, offering all of us an opportunity to promote our Peoria to new people.
“It was a privilege to secure this funding in Springfield to bring Park-A-Palooza to Peoria,” Gordon Booth said. “It will not only offer a wonderful experience for our families here in Peoria, it will also attract visitors to our great city and bring outside dollars to our community that will be economically beneficial. I love that it is going to take place right after schools let out, and will serve as a kickoff for summer fun for our children. I appreciate the hard work put in by the Peoria Park District to set up this event, and I’m looking forward to joining families at the RiverFront this June. I'm sure nobody will want to miss it!”
“Using public dollars to support vibrancy and to be a local economic driver is something that we don’t talk about enough,” stated Emily Cahill, Executive Director at the Peoria Park District. “Thank you to Representative Gordon-Booth for her trust in our organization to help power our local community!”
Since her election, Representative Jehan Gordon-Booth has focused her advocacy on the state level to improve the lives of those who live here and those who visit here. Her vision focuses on changing the narrative that you have to go to a larger city to experience vibrancy, but rather that our communities should be able to do amazing things here.
With Park-A-Palooza, her commitments and that of the Peoria Park District will merge to literally JUMP start summer on Peoria’s RiverFront. Park-A-Palooza will feature three main components – the Guinness Book of Records’ World’s Largest Bounce House and The Giant Obstacle course, a Drone Light Show and a concert with Grammy Award winning artist, Ashley McBryde featuring Chase Wright! This is the first time that each of these experiences have been offered in our community.
To learn more about Park-A-Palooza and to reserve tickets, please visit www.peoriaparks.org/pap/
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