Illinois REALTORS Dedicate & Celebrate the Bi-Centennial Plaza in Springfield, IL
Published by: Christopher Tenggren, REALTOR® at RE/MAX All Pro, St. Charles, IL, August 27, 2018
August 27, 1818 was the date the Illinois Constitution was signed. So, on August 27, 2018 (on the 200th Anniversary of Illinois Constitution Day) the Illinois REALTORS® dedicated the New “Bi-Centennial Plaza” (A REALTOR® Community Project) in Springfield Illinois, adjacent to the Illinois REALTORS Build.
The Celebration included a multitude of speakers including the Governor and Mrs. Rauner, the Mayor of Springfield, members of the Bi-Centennial Commission and Illinois REALTOR 2018 President Matt Difanis, as well as appearances by the Fighting Illini Marching Band, a Military Fly over, and a the cutting of a special 200th Birthday Cheese Cake from Eli’s. Hundreds gathered to take it all in.
Bicentennial Plaza is the result of a $2.3 million investment in the city’s downtown, realizing a long-held vision of a pedestrian walkway linking the Abraham Lincoln Home Historic Site to the Illinois Executive/Governor’s Mansion and on to the state Capitol along the famed Jackson Street corridor, on land owned by Illinois REALTORS®. Formerly a parking lot, the area has been transformed into a showcase of Springfield’s history and ties to Abraham Lincoln.
Originally the location of a stream, a large sewer was built on the site in the mid-1800s, and later private homes were constructed on the land.
Today, shade trees, tall grasses and shrub borders complement the Plaza, which is accessible for those with disabilities. Plaza floor clay bricks are laid in a bold stripe pattern that reflects the colors of the nearby buildings.
The Plaza features interpretive panels that share stories from Springfield’s rich history. A high-tech lighting system, with strands of lights connecting the 16 towers lining the Plaza, are programmed to display in different colors and patterns.
A marker commemorating the federal Fair Housing Act, signed in 1968 to safeguard equal opportunity in housing for all, sits at the Plaza entrance at the southwest corner on Fifth Street.
Additionally, the Illinois REALTORS® are spearheading bicentennial “legacy projects” statewide—adopting a historic home or property in local REALTOR® association communities across the state. The Bicentennial Plaza is a signature project of the State of Illinois bicentennial celebrations.
Illinois REALTORS Dedicate & Celebrate the Bi-Centennial Plaza in Springfield, IL
For additional insight on the project, Visit the Illinois REALTORS website at: https://www.illinoisrealtors.org/about/bicentennialplaza/
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