State Senator Neil Anderson, State Representative Travis Weaver, along with other State and Community partners, will be celebrating the completion of the Bishop Hill Fence Project on Monday, December 2, at the Colony School, 405 W. Main, in Bishop Hill.
The School is scheduled to open at 12:30 p.m., with officials arriving around 1 p.m. for a ribbon cutting ceremony. Remarks will be given by several key stakeholders, including Rep. Weaver.
The Bishop Hill Fence Project involved a public-private partnership between the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), Kewanee Life Skills Re-Entry Center (IDOC), Rotary Community Corps, and the Rotary Club of Galva. This service project, coordinated through the Rotary groups, involved over 50 inmates who created materials and fencing to be put up around the park in the center of the Village. Inmates also helped put up the fencing around the park.
The Park Fence Reception event is being hosted by the Bishop Hill Old Settlers’ Association. Light refreshments will be provided.
“The Bishop Hill community has gone above and beyond to advocate for their beloved properties,” said Rep. Weaver. “We’re all inspired to see the great partnership among the IDNR and IDOC in fixing up the Bishop Hill Park, and we’re hopeful to see this partnership continue to flourish!”
“Partnerships like these are vital to villages like Bishop Hill,” said State Senator Neil Anderson (R-Andalusia). “It’s incredible to see the work that can be accomplished when communities rally together and advocate for projects that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also help preserve the rich history within this community.”
“This project was personal to several of us as descendants,” stated Joella Krause, a Bishop Hill Preservation Advocate and Original Colonist Descendant. “Originally, there was a ravine in the Park where our ancestors lived, died, and were born the first winter in Bishop Hill. The Park was always a place to gather, socialize, and remember the founding day. This collaborative project has restored the fence back to a respectable beauty.”
Rep. Travis Weaver proudly serves Illinois House District 93. For further information, please call Rep. Weaver’s District Office at (309) 204-6514 or visit his website at repweaver.com.