297 – Farmdale Reservoir Overlook
Peoria Landmark #297
This site is a normally dry reservoir and dam built by the Army Corps of Engineers for flood control on Farm Creek. The immediate value of this dam is to store flood waters that would otherwise flood parts of East Peoria, IL, which is just downstream from the dam. It is also part of the overall plan of the Corps of Engineers for flood control in the Illinois River and Mississippi River systems.
The coordinates (N 40° 40.372 W 089° 30.134) are for the overlook for the dam along Bittersweet Road. Although the dam itself is closed to the public, the area has been made into a recreation area maintained by the Corps of Engineers that includes picnicking and hiking and bike trails. Parking for the recreation area is along Bittersweet Road about a quarter mile east of the overlook.
June 28th, 2009 at 9:43 am
great photo…need to go see this one.
June 28th, 2009 at 10:57 am
It’s the Rock Island Trail out past Princeville.
June 28th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Farmdale Recreation Area Dam.
Those stairs are a fun climb.
June 28th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Yes, it’s the Farmdale Reservoir.
June 30th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
OMG: I can see the picture!!
July 3rd, 2009 at 10:04 pm
Continue across the damn and follow the “road” to a nice little picnic spot under some pines. There were even picnic tables last time I was there. Of course, pack out.
July 6th, 2009 at 11:25 am
Considering I don’t recall seeing any water there in the last 30 years, what was it built for again?
July 9th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Ah, now I understand why it’s there. Farm Creek runs right through the middle of East Peoria; it’s the one that runs parallel to Jefferson, past the VFW and under the Meadows Ave. overpass into the river.
July 28th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
In high school, we always thought that this would be a great spot for a three day concert. The bands would be on the dam, the audience to the left (in the picture..not the spillway side). In the late 70′d/early 80’s we thought it should be called The Farmdale Dam Jam and headlined by EPs native son’s band REO Speedwagon.