Community Information About Beautiful Peoria Heights

Our Parks
Tower Park
In addition to its awesome observation decks, Tower Park in Peoria Heights also has a 60 foot round pavilion complete with a sound system, folding chairs and tables for all sorts of fund raising events and weddings, too. You’ll find play-ground equipment and picnic tables, along with beautiful flowers and a 12’ high water fountain. One other major attraction is the bronze bust of Abraham Lincoln. It was sculpted in 1908 by Gutzon Borglum (the same sculptor who created Mt Rushmore). There are only three in the world!

Tower Park’s theme is “View the Wonder,” and it enables visitors to ride 170 feet to the top of the Tower in a glass enclosed elevator for a magnificent view of the Illinois River Valley. On top of 500,000 gallons of clear, pure well water, there are three separate observation decks designed to provide an unobstructed view in all directions. There are also three telescopes for an even more distant view. Special precautions have been taken for the visitors’ safety, including ports designed especially for children. This structure is the only one of its kind in the country.

Tower Park is open from the first part of April through October (weather permitting) from 11 a.m. To 7 p.m. For addition information, contact the Ticket Office at 309-682-8732.

In addition, Tower Park or the pavilion located within the park are available for your special needs. The pavilion has a five disc CD changer, an amplification sound system, 75 chairs and 4 tables which can be used for weddings, fund raising events or private functions. There are electrical outlets, restrooms and a drinking fountain. No liquor is allowed in the park. Discounts are available to Peoria Heights residents, businesses, and organizations. Call 309-682-8732 for additional information or to make a reservation.

Forest Park Nature Center
The Forest Park Nature Center has some 500 acres of Illinois Nature Preserve. It is located about one mile north of Tower Park at the foot of Forest Park Drive. This center is dedicated to the preservation and study of wild plants and animals. There are seven miles of hiking trails through both forested woodlands and prairie openings.

The A-frame building contains natural history exhibits and serves as a headquarters for the outdoor education program. Public schools, scouts, and various other groups use this facility every year. Full-time naturalists are in charge and available for guided tours. The Trailhead Nature Store features books and unique nature items.

Our Schools
Peoria Heights Community Unit School District #325 was organized on March 17, 1969. It was formed from all of, or portions of, School District #112 (Gardener Elementary), School District #312 (Richwoods High School) and School District #120 (Peoria Heights Elementary). This community school district serves a 5.1 square mile area made up of the Village of Peoria Heights and a small portion of the City of Peoria.

Consolidation into a Community Unit School District was voted by the electorate so that there would be assurance of local educational control from kindergarten through grade twelve.

There are two schools in the district. Peoria Heights Grade School (a pre-kindergarten through eighth grade building) and Peoria Heights High School (ninth through twelfth grade building).

The school district was established and dedicated to work to meet the educational interests, needs and priorities of the parents and students that are served in the community. The school district recognizes the value, unique needs and contributions of each individual student and provides a well-rounded and challenging educational program that will give the student a sound academic foundation upon which to build, grow and become a secure and productive member of society.

The school district has received an Exemplary Practices Aware for a pre-school program (Bright Futures) for children at risk of academic failure, from the Illinois State Board of Education. The district has also received an Exemplary Partnership Award for a construction industry work-based learning project from the Illinois State Board of Education.

The School District has approximately one hundred employees making the district one of the largest employers in Peoria Heights. Peoria Heights and Peoria Heights Community Unit School District #325 are proud of our schools and visitation is encouraged.

Contact Information:
Peoria Heights High School, phone 309-686-8803
Peoria Heights Grade School, phone 309-686-8809
District Office, phone 309-686-8800

Additional School Information:
St. Thomas Catholic Grade School has grades K through eight with childcare before and after school. The school is for St. Thomas children only. Peoria Christian School is a non-denominational, non-profit school service pre-K through grade twelve. Peoria County Bright Futures serves birth through five years old. Sunburst Center for Child Development is for ages three to five and has ready care before and after school.

Our Library
Established in 1936, the Peoria Heights Public Library provides a variety of materials, such as magazines, DVDs, books on tape/CDs, large print books, and federal and state income tax forms, in addition to over 33,000 books. A copy machine, Interlibrary Loan, notary public, and fax services are also available.

Located at 816 East Glen Avenue, the library is a member of the Alliance Library System, which includes school, academic, and special, as well as public libraries in a 14,000 square mile area. Patrons holding a current library card may use not only the Peoria Heights Public Library, but also any other library in the ALS.

Eight computers are available at the library for public use. Internet access, word processing programs, the library’s electronic card catalog, and on-line data bases are a few of the other services offered.

Story hour for children ages three to five is held each Wednesday at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Toddler time for one to two year olds is held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m. A Summer Reading Club for children is sponsored during June and July.

A variety of adult programs are provided, too. The library has a meeting room for rent to the public with a seating capacity of 100 people.

HOURS:
Monday and Tuesday 9 a.m. To 8 p.m.
Wednesday and Thursday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. To 5 p.m.

Phone: 309-682-5578
Fax: 309-682-4457
www.peoriaheightslibrary.com


Our Churches
Within the boundaries of Peoria Heights, you will find the following churches:
St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic
Peoria Heights Congregational
Olivet Missionary
First Free Will Baptist
Full Gospel Lighthouse Mission
Galena Road Baptist
The Church of God and Saints of Christ



Our Trolleys
Trolleys are a part of Peoria Heights past and present. At one time, trolleys were a major form of transportation in the Peoria Heights area. Today, you can still take a tour of the Heights on the “History Trolley.”

The History Trolley is a gas powered bus trolley run by Greater Peoria Mass Transit District. The tours run on Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning and take riders along Grandview Drive with its elegant homes and breathtaking river view. The tours go from beautiful Grandview Drive through Peoria’s Averyville area and downtown Peoria. Tickets for the trolley are available at Harp & Thistle in Peoria Heights.