A big thank you to everyone who stopped by to chat and grab a project card at Halloween Downtown on October 18!
The project team loved hearing what you love about Kankakee and your ideas and priorities for the future. And the costumes did not disappoint: creative, clever, and lots of fun.
What did we hear? Many event-goers shared that they love the improvements Kankakee has made in recent years. One couple gave a shout-out to the Kankakee Valley Park District’s new Civic Woods disc golf course, which debuted with its first tournament the day before.
Other themes included:
- Parks designed to be more accessible and ADA-friendly
- Sensory-friendly play spaces for autistic and neurodivergent kids
- Indoor and outdoor family-oriented activities in every season, including those Midwest winters
- Mental health resources and addiction counseling
- More restaurants
- Better walkability
- Looking at rails-to-trails opportunities
- Attracting and supporting an artist community
- Spreading the word about all that Kankakee has to offer
That last one stood out. Many people told us what a great community Kankakee is and that it doesn’t get the credit it deserves.
Missed the event? There are still plenty of ways to share and win. Take the community survey and subscribe for project updates for a chance to win a $25 gift card to Awaken Café!
