125 – Woodruff Park

January 27th, 2007

Peoria_Landmark_125.jpg
Woodruff Park, at Grant Street, just off Adams. [map]

PeoriaHistory.com says this: 

WOODRUFF PARK
Foot of Grant Street, Peoria

Includes Woodruff Field and land of the former Isolation Hospital, and later city incinerator.

1979 – Land turned over to Park District, ball fields added, expanded to 9 acres.

Has sulphur springs outlet in a ravine.

Currently there is one ball field (shown) and a green area that fronts the river.  I took this photo from the third base side dugout on a sloppy morning that required me to later take off my shoes at the door.  Apparently it’s a popular hangout for the geese (or whatever these birds are, I’m no bird expert).  There were literally hundreds of them, and they weren’t scared of me walking around; infact they gave me the cold shoulder.  It reminded me of my college years.