Community Pulse: What a year for business and community

Looking back on the many wins and gains of 2024, it was an incredible year for the City of Morris. From finances to festivals and services to safety, partnerships and collaboration are the key to progress.

Following completion of the first comprehensive parks plan-created with input from 1,000 surveys, 21 public meetings, and multiple focus groups- two parks were renovated in 2024. Goodwill Park now serves east side residents with new fencing and bleachers at the ballfields, ADA accessible grounds and playground equipment, and a pavilion. West Side Park reconstruction followed. This new park features an additional ball diamond, pickleball courts, new playground equipment, bean bag courts, a picnic pavilion, and a redesigned skate park. The work was funded in part by a $600,000 OSLAD Grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

One of the biggest wins for our community in 2024 was ten years in the making. The new Morris Hospital YMCA opened in December, with more than 4,500. It features a gymnasium, eight-lane pool, community spaces, a demonstration kitchen, children’s areas, and a fitness center. Remarkably, the $18M project was funded by contributions from businesses, individuals, and foundations. Morris Hospital provides rehabilitation services, orthopedics and cardiology office visits, and wellness programs inside. The new Y is also a job creator with eight full-time and150 part-time staff.

Grand Oaks, a housing development to bring single-family homes and duplexes around the new YMCA over the next several years, was announced last summer. Additionally, IDOT released plans for the widening of West Route 6 from Route 47 to Lakewood Drive and eventually Saratoga Road. The City worked with IDOT to help ensure quality of life was prioritized in the plans, including pedestrian and bike paths, and additional stoplights at key intersections. Coupled with the announcement of a Do It Center hardware store along the corridor, we believe West Route 6 is poised to flourish.

As the future unfolds, we pay homage to the contributions of giants like Joe Schmitz, longtime businessman and community leader. In November, Mayor Chris Brown and the City Council approved naming Locust Road from Route 6 to DuPont Avenue, “Joe Schmitz Drive” in honor of his lifetime of impact.

Supporting a healthy fiscal future, we welcomed the first industrial user to the Brisbin Road area. GE will open its $100M appliance manufacturing facility this spring, bringing 150 jobs at full production. The city received a $2M grant for the widening of Brisbin Road to ensure the safe flow of goods and people as this area grows.

Record sales tax numbers were again reported by City Clerk Lori Werden’s Office, with tourism as a driver. Morris is home to more than 60 annual events, festivals, concerts, and races on city streets and in parks. Visitors spend their dollars in stores and restaurants, purchase gas and stay in our hotels.

Morris was one of two Illinois cities featured on the National League of Cities centennial year tour. The organization recognized Morris’ exemplary local government with a proclamation and video shoot.

In 2024, we embraced new small businesses Downtown, including Keg Grove Brewing Company in the former fire station. McBride’s bought a historic building on Liberty Street where they will open a pub and restaurant this April. SOCU invested in a beautiful new bank on Route 47 and Popeye’s Chicken built across the street. Many businesses expanded, and commercial vacancy rates remain low.

The secret to our success in Morris is influenced by access to infrastructure and our geography. But it is the people that will always set us apart. By building on this success and continuing to work together, the best is yet to come in 2025!