Word on the Illinois Yahoo group is that the city of Rochelle, in their infinite wisdom, has refused to renew the lease on the park’s gift shop. I live in the area and, while I admit I don’t frequent the park, I have, on occasion, stopped at the shop. Supposedly has something to do with bringing the park more in-line with other park district properties while making it more “kid friendly”, whatever that is.
This is a pretty sad example of politicians’ short-sightedness and being completely out of touch.
It sounds more like a chicken-[censored] way of the city saying “we dont want to risk the liabilty as park owner if the leasee got injured during a robbery or an accident”.
The RR crews are going to be mad. The fact that the shop was there to help them whenever they had a low water condition to refill their radiators. they even have a hose long enough to reach the tracks either way.
I’m suprised… It just doesn’t sound like something that the City of Rochelle (in general) would do. Rochelle and the people who run that town have always been very aggressive towards atracting the railroads and railroad related business - ie. Global III. I have a feeling that there is more to this story.
Well, I guess I will just have to go there and stomp my feet and wave my arms in protest! But I can’t go until May 21, so hope they can hold on that long!
Wonder if they are looking at a May 1st closing (month to month)?
I am not a happy unit, now that I am going to visit!
I was just at the park 2 weeks ago and the shop was closed, but I was told the owner was out of town, its a shame that something like this is getting closed down, politicians need to get their heads out of their[censored] and learn to appreciate what people want. Not just legal issues.
I just sent an e-mail to the Rochelle park district asking why the decision was made
and what more appropriate use there could be of this shop than what it is already.
Maybe I’ll get a response or it will just be more of this…[banghead][banghead][banghead][banghead][banghead][banghead]
There seems to be a lot of erroneous information out there so I want to let you know what is really going on. The City of Rochelle has decided to give management of the Rochelle Railroad Park to the Rochelle Tourism & Visitor’s Association due to reasons that I’m not at liberty to discuss. Neither the Rochelle Chamber or Park District have anything to do with the Railroad Park, nor have they ever.
The Rochelle Tourism Board is planning to continue to have some form of a gift shop at the Railroad Park and hopefully also to add a railroad museum, maybe a train layout and have some type of food and beverages available. I assure you that we plan to improve upon what is currently there, not to take anything away from the park. It may take us some time for these plans to come to fruition, but it will happen.
Thank you all very much for your concern of the Rochelle Railroad Park and your patronage as well. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me at tourism@rochelle.net.
Ross Freier, Director
Rochelle Tourism & Visitor’s Association