Today, I’m excited to announce Congressman Bill Foster's endorsement of our campaign to flip IL-16!
Rep. Foster understands the importance of expanding domestic manufacturing and ensuring we put proper protections on AI and Big Tech — ideas that are core to our campaign.
Thank you to Congressman Foster and his team for supporting the grassroots movement we’re building across the 16th District!
I would like to start displaying embroidery work around my house. Do you display in one place or all over? Is your work framed or in hoops?
One way to help Paul Nolley defeat Rep. Darin LaHood is by contributing to his campaign before the June 30 fundraising deadline.
For years, LaHood has enjoyed a significant financial advantage and, most recently, ran unopposed in the 2024 election. In 2024, no Democratic candidate filed for Illinois’ 16th Congressional District, and LaHood ran unopposed in both the primary and general election.
As a result, LaHood has been able to build a large campaign war chest, giving him substantial resources for television advertising, mailers, campaign staff, and other campaign activities.
Paul Nolley is giving voters a choice in 2026. A strong fundraising report before June 30 will demonstrate grassroots support and help his campaign compete against a well-funded incumbent. Together, we can help level the playing field and ensure voters across Illinois’ 16th Congressional District hear an alternative vision for the future.
Learn more, volunteer, or contribute at
PaulNolleyforCongress.com
One way to help Paul Nolley defeat Rep. Darin LaHood is by contributing to his campaign before the June 30 fundraising deadline.
For years, LaHood has enjoyed a significant financial advantage and, most recently, ran unopposed in the 2024 election. In 2024, no Democratic candidate filed for Illinois’ 16th Congressional District, and LaHood ran unopposed in both the primary and general election.
As a result, LaHood has been able to build a large campaign war chest, giving him substantial resources for television advertising, mailers, campaign staff, and other campaign activities.
Paul Nolley is giving voters a choice in 2026. A strong fundraising report before June 30 will demonstrate grassroots support and help his campaign compete against a well-funded incumbent. Together, we can help level the playing field and ensure voters across Illinois’ 16th Congressional District hear an alternative vision for the future.
Learn more, volunteer, or contribute at:
I am planning to visit Plano. Tell me all the things I should see, do, explore, and more. I’d love to hear your favorite place for tacos, best happy hour, brunch, self pampering treatment, walking trails, public art, indie bookstores, and craft stores. What is quirky or offbeat in your area?
What advice would you give to someone about to get a boxer puppy?
Dear Supporters,
Unfortunately, the Peoria Park District decided last night to not act on protecting Thomas Detweiller's gift to the people of Peoria. We still have an opportunity to urge the Attorney General's Office to act.
We are asking every concerned citizen to please take a few minutes to file a complaint with the Illinois Attorney General Charitable Trust Bureau regarding the condition and management of the Detweiller Playground Trust property.
Complaint Form:
Illinois Attorney General Charitable Trust Complaint Form (https://forms.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/Forms/Charitable-Trust-Complaint-Form?utm\_source=chatgpt.com)
Regarding Court Case number 2025-PR-268
Organization Information:
Detweiller Playground Trust, 2 Caroline St, Peoria, IL 61603 (https://www.google.com/maps/search/2+Caroline+St,+Peoria,+IL+61603?entry=gmail&source=g)
Phone: 309-339-2898
You may attach photographs showing the unusable playground conditions and lack of maintenance.
You can copy and paste the following into the complaint section asking:
“Have charitable funds been lost, wasted or diverted from proper charitable purposes? Please provide approximate monetary amount.”...$339000.00
Suggested Complaint Text:
“No apparent maintenance is being performed at the property, including failure to even empty garbage cans, while IRS Form 990 filings report substantial expenditures on repairs, maintenance, and property management.
From 2018 through 2025, the Trust spent over $339,000 on maintenance, repairs, and property management, yet the property appears neglected and deteriorated.
Additionally, the Trust reportedly collected only an average of approximately $348 per month in rent/lease income on roughly 27 acres of valuable riverfront property, including occupancy by the private Peoria Boat Club on trust property.”
"Serious concerns with Conflict of Interest regarding one the Detweiller Playground Trustees over the past 7 years is the Executive Vice President of O'Brien Steel which is now planning to purchase over 7 acres of this gift which Thomas Detweiller left to the People of the City of Peoria."
IMPORTANT:
The complaint must be signed by the complainant. You may:
• Sign electronically in Adobe PDF, or
• Print, sign, scan, and attach the signed document to the complaint submission.
Use your phone to scan if necessary.
Every complaint filed helps demonstrate to the Illinois Attorney General that many citizens have serious concerns regarding stewardship of this charitable trust property and its intended public purpose.
Thank you for taking the time to help protect Detweiller Playground and Marina access.
Sincerely,
Tim Herold, Detweiller Playground Protectors
PRESS RELEASE: For Immediate Release
A Tribute to Thomas H. Detweiller on the anniversary of his death will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13th, at the Illinois River end of Caroline Street at the historic plaque specified in his Last Will and Testament.
Thomas Detweiller’s Will contains his instructions for establishing the Detweiller Playground to have land made available for playground and recreation purposes due to business, industry and other construction, “that to a large extent encroached and have taken over land adjoining the Illinois River in the City of Peoria.”
Speakers include Julie Dodge, member of Detweiller Playground Protectors on the historical perspective; Pete Fenner, Board Member of Peoria Audubon Society on the special values of the area for local birding along the river; and a tribute from local poet and Pimiteoui Hiking Club Member, Dave Grebner. There will be a scattering of flower petals on areas of the land and water in danger of being lost from public access, and a ceremony for the trees in threat of being removed. The Detweiller Playground Protectors will visually demonstrate the area in jeopardy of industry expansion so the public can see the impact the industrial footprint will have on a healthy green space that’s contributed to a natural ecosystem for decades is being cut in half.
The press event will also comment on the deterioration that the Detweiller Playground Trust has allowed for years at the property. Thomas Detweiller’s will directed that the property be maintained and beautified as a place for “clean and healthy recreation and play.” In order to gain approval of the land sale, the Trust removed restrictions contained in the Thomas Detweiller Will claiming deterioration as a reason for selling the property to industry in their filing to the Peoria Circuit Court.
Contact: Tim Herold, 309-251-7807
In the West Lake shopping center.
Dear Supporters,
We are imploring you to contact the Illinois Attorney General's Office and request the following information. Add your name and city, copy and paste to complaint form, email or read into a voicemail. Contact info at end. We must make the AG aware that many voices have concerns.
Sincerely,
Tim Herold for Detweiller Playground Protectors
******************************************************************************************************
Dear Illinois Attorney General,
Re: Detweiller Playground Trust — Case No. 2025-PR-268, Tenth Judicial Circuit Court
We respectfully request three immediate actions from your office regarding the Detweiller Playground Trust matter:
Advise the Detweiller Playground Trust that the property should not yet be sold or transferred while the Illinois Attorney General reviews newly discovered information.
Deny or oppose any proposed sale of charitable trust property to O’Brien Steel (https://www.obriensteel.com/?utm\_source=chatgpt.com) until that review is complete.
File or support a petition to reopen the court decision in Case No. 2025-PR-268 based on significant new information that was not publicly known or fully considered at the time of approval.
We believe these actions are necessary because serious concerns have emerged involving:
• Potential conflicts of interest involving trustees connected to parties that may financially benefit from the proposed transaction
• Possible fiduciary failures and violations of donor intent tied to preservation of public recreation and river access
• Lack of meaningful notification to affected neighbors, community organizations, and interested parties
• Alleged omissions or inaccuracies presented during the approval process
• Longstanding concerns regarding stewardship of charitable trust assets intended for the people of Peoria
• Concerns that inadequate maintenance, deterioration, or undervaluation of the property may have been used to justify removal of donor restrictions and conversion to industrial use
• Possible breach of fiduciary duty through failure to adequately maintain, preserve, and protect charitable trust assets for their intended public purpose
Of particular concern, FOIA-obtained communications appear to show that even the Assistant Attorney General questioned how aspects of the proposal would satisfy or preserve “donor intent” during communications with the petitioner’s attorney. This raises serious questions about whether the final approval fully addressed those concerns or whether all relevant information was adequately considered before restrictions were removed.
This property was gifted in trust for the benefit of the people of Peoria and future generations. Many residents believe the community was excluded from a process that will permanently impact historic riverfront access, recreation, and charitable trust land.
Concerned residents are in the process of organizing and compiling documentation, FOIA materials, historical records, and public concerns, and are prepared to bring this information to Chicago for further discussion and review with the Attorney General’s office.
Accordingly, we again respectfully request that the Attorney General:
• Prevent or delay any sale or transfer of trust property pending review
• Oppose or deny the proposed sale to O’Brien Steel at this time
• Seek reopening or reconsideration of the court decision based on newly discovered information and public-interest concerns
Thank you for your time, attention, and continued responsibility in protecting charitable trusts and donor intent for the people of Illinois.
Sincerely,
[Name]
[City]
******************************************************************************************************
Illinois Attorney General – Charitable Trust Bureau
Chicago Office: (312) 814-2595
Springfield Office: (217) 782-6830
Online Complaint Form:
Illinois Attorney General Charitable Trust Complaint Form (https://forms.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/Forms/Charitable-Trust-Complaint-Form?utm\_source
General Contact Page
https://forms.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/Forms/OAG\_ContactUs
A loss of Greenspace and access to the river hurts all of us! It is a peace place to walk, run, ride your bike, fish, birdwatch and more.
🚨 URGENT: Speak Up for Peoria’s Riverfront – Wednesday, May 6 🚨
The Peoria Park District will hold a Special Meeting:
📍 Noble Center, 1125 W Lake Ave
🕠 Wednesday, May 6 at 5:30 PM
This is the moment.
This meeting represents the last real opportunity for the Park District to ask the court to reopen the Detweiller Playground Trust case—a case that moved forward without notifying the Park District.
If they had been notified, you would have been notified.
And the community would have had a voice.
Instead, that voice was left out.
⚖️ What Must Happen Tonight
The Board must act. Not discuss—act.
We are asking for a trustee to introduce this motion:
“I move that the Peoria Park District authorize counsel to pursue appropriate legal action to reopen or revisit the Detweiller Playground Trust case based on lack of notice and exclusion of necessary parties.”
This requires a motion, a second, and a vote.
🌊 What’s at Stake
A wider trail is not a solution.
What’s being lost is irreplaceable riverfront land and access—held in trust for the People of Peoria.
Once it’s gone, it’s gone.
📣 TAKE ACTION NOW (DO THIS TODAY)
Public comment will come after agenda items—so pressure must happen before the meeting.
Call or email the trustees right now and demand action:
President Robert Johnson — 309-404-6021 | rjohnson@peoriaparks.org
VP Steve Montez — 309-691-1805 | s.montez@peoriaparks.org
Trustee Joyce Harant — 309-648-3035 | jharant@peoriaparks.org
Trustee Reagan Hill — 309-681-2679 | rhill@peoriaparks.org
Trustee Alex Sierra — 309-681-2899 | asierra@peoriaparks.org
Trustee Ron Silver — 309-357-2925 | rsilver@peoriaparks.org
Trustee Mark Slover — mslover@peoriaparks.org
🗳️ The Question for the Board
Will there be four votes to stand up for Peoria?
“This is your moment—what will your vote say about your stewardship?”
Here’s a 10-second script:
“Hi, I’m a Peoria resident. Please make, second, and vote for a motion to reopen the Detweiller Trust case due to lack of notice to the Park District. A wider trail doesn’t replace lost riverfront access. We need your vote—thank you.”
Walk-Bike-Run to Save the Detweiller Playground & Marina will be held Wednesday, April 29th, on the Rock Island Greenway Trail right-of-way. Learn how the community can take action to save our park land from a planned private sale and loss of public access. Meet at the Settlement of Peoria Historic Site Monument, located next to the Greenway Trail. Enter from Caroline Street near the boat ramp and go north/left toward the Detweiller Playground for parking. Materials provided for rally sign making beginning at 5 p.m. The walk-bike-run will begin at 5:30 p.m. Optional picnic with Avanti's sandwiches and chips available after the walk. Dress for the weather to be outside for an hour or more. This event is led by Detweiller Playground Protectors, who will provide comments along the Greenway.