From the City Manager's Desk: |
|
|
City Manager Pamela Reece
|
| As promised, the Town is getting ready for the summer months.
Individual pool passes went on sale earlier this week. Purchase now through March 31 to get the best price! We know you want to keep the kids busy during those summer months. The Parks & Rec Summer Activity Guide goes live online at 5 p.m. Friday, March 6. Don't forget to check out summer offerings from the Children's Discovery Museum and the Illinois Art Station!
|
|
|
In addition to preparing for the sun, we're also celebrating all we accomplished in 2025. The 2025 Annual Report was published in February. And, recently, the Mayor and members of Town staff visited with our congressional delegation to discuss Town projects and express our appreciation for their support. Check out the pictures below.
Finally, if you're a business owner or run a business in Normal, we want to hear from you. The annual business survey is live, and your feedback helps guide priorities, shape programs and ensure the Town remains responsive to the needs of our local business community.
|
|
|
$1.9 Million Trail Extension for West Normal |
|
|
The new trail section will amplify the impact of the recently constructed Gregory Street trail extension, which addressed a part of Normal historically underserved by trail access.
|
|
“On behalf of the Town, I thank Senator Durbin for securing funds for the Town of Normal. This investment will allow the Town to extend the Constitution Trail in west Normal, connecting the Trail to major employers and promoting multimodal travel by separating pedestrians and cyclists from vehicles.”
|
--Town of Normal Mayor Chris Koos
|
|
|
Partnerships Make Meaningful Progress |
The Town has eight active projects or initiatives currently receiving federal support. Mayor Chris Koos and members of Town staff recently shared updates with congressional delegates on these efforts. Conversations emphasized the importance of federal partnerships and reinforced a shared commitment to investing in infrastructure, economic vitality and quality-of-life improvements for residents.
|
|
|
Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL)
|
Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
|
| Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17)
|
Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-16)
|
|
|
In photos above: Town of Normal Mayor Chris Koos, City Manager Pamela Reece, Director of Engineering & Public Works Ryan Otto and Director of Economic Development Nik Duffle met with Senators Durbin and Duckworth and Representatives LaHood and Sorensen.
|
|
|
On March 2, the Normal Town Council also took the following actions:
|
- Authorized the publication of a Zoning Map
-
Awarded a bid for water main and service line materials
- Authorized a facility use agreement with FlixBus Inc. for use of Uptown Station
- Authorized a joint funding agreement for federally funded construction with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) for the Chiddix Junior High School Safe Routes to School Shared-Use Path Project
|
|
| Department Spotlight: Cultural Arts |
A strong community is built through collaboration. The Town of Normal’s partnerships throughout the community illustrate what’s possible when local government works with others. The Cultural Arts Department aligns resources and shares expertise to expand learning opportunities, strengthen our community’s workforce and support long-term economic vitality for residents of all ages. Here are several ways the Cultural Arts team cultivated positive partnerships with educational partners in 2025:
|
|
|
|
- For years, Illinois State University's (ISU) Gamma Phi Circus has performed at the Sweet Corn Circus, with numerous campus entities hosting booths at the event and ISU volunteers shucking corn
- ISU's Strong Project is one of many programs which showcases its work with young musicians at Make Music Normal
| |
|
- Ballin' On Beaufort kicks off ISU's basketball season with activities in Uptown Normal
- Mayor Koos annually speaks at the ISU Tree Lighting Ceremony with ISU President Tarhule in Uptown Normal which jump starts Homecoming festivities
|
|
|
At the Children's Discovery Museum:
|
|
|
| -
Students from Illinois State University's (ISU) Cross Cultural Teaching and Learning class planned activities for Museum events such as Halloween Hoopla
- ISU Mennonite College of Nursing students participated in hands-on workshops about engaging with students in schools
|
|
|
- ISU Physics Professor Dr. Jay Ansher volunteered time to bring activities to Halloween Hoopla, Innovation Station and Playla
- Staff collaborated with ISU students (TCH 110) to create a Healthy Me exhibit pop-up experience
- Students from ISU's Child Growth & Development major observed and assisted with Play, Learn and Grow and Early Explorer programming
-
Staff collaborated with students from the ISU Psychology Department to evaluate family events and analyze data
- Early Childhood Education Instructor Miranda Lin conducted a workshop about hands-on STEAM programming with students
|
At the Illinois Art Station (IAS):
|
|
|
| -
Illinois State University (ISU) Art students helped plan and facilitate activities for after-school
- An ISU Psychology graduate student interned in fall 2025; two graduate students from the Wonsook Kim School of Art will work there in 2026
|
|
|
-
Illinois State University (ISU) students presented their theses Ted-Talk style at the 3-Minute Thesis Competition held at Normal Theater in partnership with the Graduate School Program
|
| |
|
- The ISU Department of African American Studies presented the Black History Month film series and the ISU Queer Coalition presented the Queer Cinema film series,
| -
Debuted an on-going Queering Horror Series in partnership with ISU’s Department of Psychology, Department of Educational Administration and Foundations and the ISU Queer Coalition
- Continued the Foxtail Film Festival, a uniquely run festival organized by ISU students
- Developed an ongoing Ethnogothic Film Series, curated by Dr. Stanford Carpenter and Dr. Eric Wesselman, both from ISU
-
Hosted film screenings, talkbacks and promotions by various student organizations, such as AsiaConnect, the ISU Film Society and others
- Hosted the screenings of the Heartland Hawk Film Festival
|
|
|
Get news delivered right to your inbox |
| |
|
| Don't miss an email! In your inbox, tag the Normal Now emails as Primary (Google) or Focused (Outlook) to ensure you get them as soon as they are delivered.
|
|
|
|
Thank you for being part of our community! We want to hear from you! Let us know how we're doing and what you'd like to see in future editions of Normal Now.
|
|
|
Manage your preferences | Opt Out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.
|
Town of Normal Communications Dept | Normal, IL 61761 US
|
|
|
This email was sent to .
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.
| | |
|
|
