In 2018, a group of Pekin residents filed a federal lawsuit complaining that the City’s pedestrian infrastructure is largely inaccessible to people with mobility issues. While this is not an issue unique to Pekin, the City was not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, so the City entered into a consent decree to address the complainant’s issues in November 2022. Per the consent decree, the City has allocated more than $2 million on ADA upgrades, and we will continue to allocate at least $250,000 annually for more upgrades. Since the consent decree, the City also hired a consulting firm, TWM, to survey all sidewalks, curb ramps, and marked crosswalks and to create an ADA Transition Plan to prioritize and replace non-compliant pedestrian facilities, and that work has been completed.

In February 2025, TWM was honored by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois (ACEC) for its outstanding contributions to the City’s ADA Transition Plan. This prestigious award acknowledges the comprehensive survey work, data collection, and GIS database development that were integral to the project, as well as its meaningful positive impact on the community. The ADA Transition Plan tackled key challenges in pedestrian accessibility and demonstrated resilience in overcoming obstacles. The project also featured TWM’s close collaboration with the City, including support for public meetings and community engagement.

TWM attended the March 10th City Council meeting to share the award with the City, and we greatly thank TWM for their diligent work in helping us address our ADA compliance problems. As the City moves forward, we will be pursuing compliance aggressively. We have updated contact information and website pages to reflect our new ADA coordinator after the former city engineer’s departure for a new opportunity, and we will continue to be open and responsive to the public on this matter.

2025 Upcoming Events:

May 24 Pekin Catfish Classic: Twisted Cat Outdoors Fishing Tournament

May 31 Downtown Concert Series: Backstreet Band

June 27-28 Dragon’s Fire Hot Air Balloon Fest

August 23 Downtown Concert Series: Revel in Red

August 28 Marigold Golf Outing

September 3-7 Pekin Marigold Festival

December 5 Christmas on Court

December 26 Pekin Holiday Tournament

Visit DiscoverPekin.com for a full list of community events