July 24, 2025 

City Manager Pamela Reece

Thanks to all who joined us earlier this month for Make Music Normal. If you were in Uptown Normal, you were one of more than 8,000 people who came to enjoy this free, all-ages musical festival. Rain delayed Saturday's start, but by late afternoon and into the evening, the streets were alive with music!

Sadly, we had to cancel the planned July 20 Stride & Ride event due to ongoing thunderstorms and rain. Stay tuned for next year!

Finally! The weather cooperated July 22 when (despite the heat) families and skaters, young (and ... older) attended the grand re-opening of the Fairview Skatepark. It was fun to watch skaters "drop in" and show off their "cleanest tricks." (I'm told that's skater lingo for sharing their talents.) Check out the photos below. 

Thanks to Uptown Partners, Christmas in July is this Saturday in Uptown Normal. And, August kicks off with the To The Max Obstacle Course Challenge. Sweet Corn Circus will be here before we know it. I hope to see you out and about!

"We used community input to create a skatepark for all, from beginners to experts."

- Doug Damery

On July 22, Town of Normal Mayor Chris Koos, Director of Parks & Recreation Doug Damery and professional skaters Jud Heald and Julia Brueckler welcomed the community to the officially re-opened Fairview Skatepark. 

Left: Mayor Chris Koos celebrates the opening of the skatepark. Above: Community members enjoy watching participants break in the new amenity.

Above left: Young scooter riders enjoy the new skatepark. Above middle: Councilmember Kevin McCarthy shows off his skills. Above right: A young skater gets ready to drop in.  

Above left: Professional skater Julia Brueckler helps Director of Parks & Recreation Doug Damery get on board before hitting the slappy curb. Brueckler helped design the course. Above right: Brueckler and professional skater Jud Heald sign autographs.  

This memorial sculpture, "Circle of Friendship," in front of the Community Activity Center, honors the people and stories associated with the historic Illinois Soldiers and Sailors Children’s School that once operated on the property 

Findings from a 2023 survey indicated the community is very supportive of public art. 

In July, the Council accepted bids for a sculpture park project, the first piece of the new Public Art Master Plan, adopted in June 2024. 

The Town believes public art creates beauty, promotes civic engagement, enhances quality of life and fosters strong community connection. We are eager to celebrate visual art opportunities for all generations to enjoy.

The sculpture park will be installed at 1110 Douglas St., Normal, near the Community Activity Center at One Normal Plaza. Next steps include working with the Public Art Working Group to begin the selection process for three sculpture pieces.

As a cost-saving measure, Town of Normal Parks & Recreation staff will perform some of the installation work. The Town plans to complete this project this fall.

On July 21, the Normal Town Council also took the following actions:

To learn more, read the July 21 Council Action Reports. 

The Town of Normal annually earns the Government Finance Officer Association (GFOA) award for distinguished budget presentation as well as the GFOA certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting.

Source: Town of Normal Finance  Department Website

Welcome to Box City, where the roads are made of tape and creativity rules the skyline!

Recently Camp Discovery campers at the Children's Discovery Museum built Box City from the ground up using only cardboard, creativity and collaboration.

Who knew urban planning could be this fun?! Our Town Planners did!

Mercy Davison and Tessa Ferraro from the Town's Planning & Zoning Department served as guest experts, inspiring the little planners.

"The kids' cities were very impressive!" said Ferraro. 

Davison agreed, saying she plans to share images of the camp with the state planning association. 

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