|
 Nila
Smith led the ribbon cutting, representing the Ribbon Cut Team at
Lincoln Daily News and also speaking as a member of the Logan County
Tourism Bureau Board.
From 1926 to 1930 Route 66 came into the heart of Lincoln via
Kickapoo Street. It turned on to Broadway went to Logan and Fifth
Streets, then turned south and went past the Mill.
In 2017 the Illinois Route 66 Scenic By-Ways and the city of Lincoln
worked together to get that original route marked in the city.
Smith noted that all along Route 66 from Chicago to the west coast,
tourists come across the fun, interesting, folk-artsy roadside
attractions that encouraged them to stop and spend time in a
community. The new Lincoln Welcome Garden is designed to provide
that same happy experience for tourists coming into town on that
original route.
Smith noted, “The insight and vision of Leslie Hoefle, the
commitment of many, many Lincoln businesses, and the backing of the
Logan County Tourism Bureau has brought this to our town.”
It was noted that the garden is still work in progress and that the
committee that consisted of Hoefle, Tourism Board members Emily
Davenport and Cindy Fleshman, with support from Tourism Director
Cris Wibben and tourism assistant Morgan Gleason.”
Hoefle
was asked to speak on behalf of herself and her committee. She
thanked everyone who had been a part of the erection of the garden
from the businesses in Lincoln and Logan County who had invested
dollars in the items being placed in the garden, the many people who
had done physical labor, helping to get all the pieces put into
their proper places.
Hoefle talked about how the idea came about and accented her
comments saying, “What you see is the initial phase. The Garden will
never be complete. There will be additions with changes with the
season, holiday or event to make it fresh and new.”
Hoefle also mentioned that there is an ADA accessible entrance on
the northeast corner of the Garden. Future plans include a brick
walkway, and the Route 66 Experience Hub now located in Postville
Park on Fifth Street will be moved to the Welcome Garden.
Bill Kelly with Illinois Route 66 Scenic By-Ways was on hand and
spoke also. He noted that Lincoln was named for Abraham Lincoln, who
christened the town with the juice of a watermelon. He said that he
thought it was only fitting that the garden should also be
christened, and he had brought with him a bottle of Route 66
Soda-pop. He said he would do the honors after the ribbon cutting.
Kelly went on to note that the Garden was going to be a great
addition to the Route 66 experience. He said he was happy to know
that the Route 66 experience hub would be moved to the garden. He
concluded saying that the attraction will afford tourists an
opportunity to find something happy and fun in the downtown area.
The Garden will encourage them to stop and when they are stopped,
they will hopefully visit downtown businesses.
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Inside
the garden there is a special tribute to a good friend who is no
longer with us – Charlie Ott. Smith commented, “He was Lincoln’s
Lincoln, and we loved him. We are so proud that he is part of the
park. On behalf of the city and community, we thank Charlie. Perhaps
we didn’t do that enough when he was with us, but now at least we
can pay a [small] tribute to him in this garden.” Charlie’s wife
Margie was on hand for the cut, and Smith concluded by thanking her
for coming to be a part of the ceremony.
Lincoln
Mayor Seth Goodman was the last person to speak before the cut. He
said that he thought most everything had been said, but on behalf of
the city, he too wanted to thank Leslie, as well as those who had
contributed to creation of the park.
For the
snip of the ribbon, the committee members along with Wibben were
brought forward. At the countdown Hoefle snipped the ribbon with
assistance from Davenport, Fleshman and Wibben.
Right
after the ribbon cut Kelly popped the top on the bottle of Route 66
Soda and with Mayor Goodman, Abraham Lincoln and Wibben looking on
and he ‘christened’ the flower bed at the northwest corner of the
garden.
The garden currently offers several attractions. Visitors will find
a gazebo with metal corn art and live petunias, benches for sitting
and relaxing, wooden panels - one of which is adorned with a Route
66 sign, a metal-art pig, windmills painted to look like flowers, a
livestock water tank filled with flowers, the Charlie Ott tribute,
and a “selfie mailbox.”
Throughout the garden there are signs encouraging visitors to stop
and take a photo to help them remember their happy visit to the
welcome garden. Inside the selfie mailbox are a variety of signs
that visitors can hold when taking their pictures. On the side of
the box is an invitation for guests to send their selfies to the
Logan County Tourism Bureau.
The ribbon cut was well attended with several business
owners/managers on hand. Also attending were several members of city
of Lincoln government and members of the Logan County Tourism
Bureau.
[Nila Smith] |
