If you haven’t seen the new website for Renaissance Park, formerly the Med-Tech District, click here.
It looks pretty nice, actually. I notice there are a lot of stylized drawings and artists’ renditions of things, and very few real pictures of what the area looks like. I suppose that’s because, (a) right now there’s a big hole in the ground where the Innovation Center will be built, and (b) they’re trying to sell the vision for the area, not the current “look.”
Renaissance Park is part of the larger Heart of Peoria Plan, so it’s encouraging to see this part of the Plan progressing. Some may say what’s happened so far is all fluff, but I think good marketing is a key component of revitalizing that area, so this is definitely progress.
Click on “Read the rest of this entry” below to read the official press release:
Date: March 1, 2006
Released by: Alma Brown, Public Information Officer, 494-8554
Subject: CITY AND RENAISSANCE PARK LAUNCH NEW WEBSITE
Peoria, IL – The City of Peoria and the Renaissance Park Commission have launched a new website – www.renaissanceparkpeoria.com – as the next step in marketing a vital and vibrant part of Peoria. The website serves as a portal of information for individuals and groups investigating Peoria – future residents, developers, real estate agents, entrepreneurs and corporations.
Created by Converse Marketing, the website joins an impressive array of new marketing tools that highlight the tremendous assets of the area. Visitors will find three main sections to the site, each dedicated to a unique area feature. Research Park outlines the impressive medical and technology resources grouped within Renaissance Park, including information on the Peoria NEXT Innovation Center. Business District describes the vibrancy of Main Street and explains the various city incentives for developing there. Urban Living showcases the strengths of the nine historic neighborhoods that comprise Renaissance Park. The site also features an updated “Recent News†section.
“This website really highlights the best that Renaissance Park has to offer in a way that is both engaging and informative,†says Karla Dennhardt, chair of the Renaissance Park Commission. “We wanted a site that really drew people in and made them want to learn more.â€
“In today’s economy, it is critical not only to have a website, but to have one that stands out,†says William Engelbrecht, a Renaissance Park Commissioner and chair of its Marketing Committee. “Renaissance Park is place that will attract members of the creative class – individuals who appreciate an urban lifestyle and incredible neighborhoods. These are the same people who use the Internet as a primary source of information.â€
Based on three years worth of collaborative work by over 40 community leaders, the Peoria City Council passed an ordinance creating the 773-acre Peoria Medical and Technology District in May of 2003. Since then, the progress of the district has been shepherded by a commission of representatives from the neighborhoods, businesses and anchor institutions. The Commission developed a comprehensive master plan, and in 2005 voted to adopt the name Renaissance Park. For more information, please contact Chris Setti, City of Peoria, at (309) 494-8618 or csetti@ci.peoria.il.us.
Like any website, the Renaissance Park site will continue to grow and adapt to the needs of the people who are making use of it. So keep checking back from time to time to see what’s new, what events are coming to the area, what businesses are launching or expanding, etc.
The neighbors, businesses, anchor institutions and, of course, city officials, have all worked together wonderfully to make it all happen. And it is that cooperation that’s turning the “vision” into a reality.
I’ll definitely be checking the site regularly. I know you don’t need me to tell you this, but my advice is to always keep it updated. The PeoriaNEXT website, for instance, still has former District 150 superintendent Kay Royster listed as being on the Board of Directors. That means that page hasn’t been updated for at least a year and a half.