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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are pleased to recognize milestone events in
4Illinois organizations; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The Shore Acres Park Clubhouse, located on the
6bank of the Illinois River in Chillicothe, is a landmark site
7and home of the Chillicothe Park District offices; and
 
8    WHEREAS, The Shore Acres Park Clubhouse was constructed in
91915 and will celebrate its centennial on September 12, 2015;
10and
 
11    WHEREAS, The 54-acre site was initially constructed as the
12clubhouse for the Peoria Automobile Club, a group of automotive
13enthusiasts that promoted the construction of paved roads for
14the growing number of automobiles; the original construction of
15the Clubhouse included a 2-story high, 1,500 square-foot
16ballroom, a massive fireplace, and a historic depiction of the
17surrounding river valley painted in 1925 by famous muralist
18Erik Arons; such features earned the Clubhouse a place on the
19National Register of Historic Places; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Over the following years, the Peoria Automotive
21Club became the North Shore Country Club; the Club hosted

 

 

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1bicycle races, fraternity and sorority outings from nearby
2Bradley University, and numerous athletic activities; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Following the closure of the Club in 1935, the
4property was renamed Shore Acres; it was later acquired by the
5Chillicothe Park District in 1948; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Shore Acres has provided a unique scenic view of
7the Illinois River and operates as a destination for steamboats
8carrying people for day-long picnics and for high school proms,
9family reunions, athletic events, weddings, and countless club
10and family gatherings; and
 
11    WHEREAS, The Chillicothe Park District has worked to expand
12the facilities at Shore Acres since its acquisition, including
13a water park, basketball courts, tennis courts, a baseball
14diamond, picnic pavilions, and a Frisbee golf course; the
15District is presently led by Board President Wes Williamson,
16Trustees Shane Placher, Gary Craig, Carol Masek, Ben Tiller,
17Sandra Tippett, Jeff Nudd, and Executive Director Kevin Yates;
18and
 
19    WHEREAS, The modern Shore Acres Park complex serves
20thousands of Illinoisans on a yearly basis and provides a
21landmark recreational facility to residents of central
22Illinois; therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
2NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
3recognize the Shore Acres Park Clubhouse on the occasion of its
4100th anniversary and commend the vision, dedication, and hard
5work of the Chillicothe Park District throughout the years; and
6be it further
 
7    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
8presented to the Chillicothe Park District as an expression of
9our esteem.