December 21, 2024
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Streator City Park adds drinking fountain

2 others planned for Marilla Park, fundraising ongoing

By Derek Barichello
Ellen Vogel, community health engagement program manager of Live Well Streator, thanks officials Wednesday, July 13, 2022, for their role in obtaining a bi-level drinking fountain for City Park in Streator.

Ellen Vogel, community health engagement program manager of Live Well Streator, thanks officials Wednesday, July 13, 2022, for their role in obtaining a bi-level drinking fountain for City Park in Streator. (Derek Barichello - dbarichello@shawmedia.com)

Clean drinking water will be readily available for visitors of Streator’s City Park — and their four-legged friends.

A bi-level drinking fountain was installed on the northeast portion of the park near Paul’s Pad with funding supplied by the Dieken Family Foundation and a 2021 Illinois American Water Environmental Grant that Live Well Streator received in partnership with the city of Streator and Streator Tourism.

Streator officials cut a ceremonial ribbon Wednesday, July 13, 2022, commemorating the donation of a bi-level drinking fountain in City Park. Participating are (left to right) Ellen Vogel, Live Well Streator; Bob Dieken, Dieken Family Foundation; Elizabeth Palm and her dog Luna; Holly Wheeler (holding scissors), Illinois American Water; Gary Wheeler, Streator Park Board; Judy Booze, Salvation Army and Streator Chamber ambassador; Courtney Levy, Streator Chamber; Mayor Tara Bedei; Jeff Long, Streator Public Works; Dana Stillwell, Streator Chamber ambassador; Megan Wright, Streator Chamber; and Jessica Pastirik.

Streator officials cut a ceremonial ribbon Wednesday, July 13, 2022, commemorating the donation of a bi-level drinking fountain in City Park. Participating are (left to right) Ellen Vogel, Live Well Streator; Bob Dieken, Dieken Family Foundation; Elizabeth Palm and her dog Luna; Holly Wheeler (holding scissors), Illinois American Water; Gary Wheeler, Streator Park Board; Judy Booze, Salvation Army and Streator Chamber ambassador; Courtney Levy, Streator Chamber; Mayor Tara Bedei; Jeff Long, Streator Public Works; Dana Stillwell, Streator Chamber ambassador; Megan Wright, Streator Chamber; and Jessica Pastirik. (Derek Barichello - dbarichello@shawmedia.com)

A ceremony was conducted Wednesday to commemorate the drinking fountain, which features a bottle filling station and pet hydration station.

The fountains make clean water accessible to the public and promote the use of reusable containers to fill up water, rather than buying water in plastic containers and throwing it away, said Holly Wheeler, operations superintendent for Illinois American Water’s Streator District.

The fountain is the second donated and installed in Streator. The first bi-level fountain was put in Central Park.

Two more bi-level drinking fountains have been ordered and delivered in anticipation of installing them in Marilla Park to replace a pair of aging fountains. Live Well Streator was awarded $2,000 for the 2022 Illinois American Water Environmental Grant to fund them in-part, but more assistance is needed to reach a goal of $5,500. Online donations, which are tax deductible, can be made through Live Well Streator at https://www.osfhealthcare.org/locations/streator/community-health/live-well-streator/

For information on the donation drive or Live Well Streator, contact Ellen Vogel at ellen.m.vogel@osfhealthcare.org or 815-673-4528.