Performing Arts Venue
The Campaign for the Steven D. Skinner Performing Arts Venue
Help People Connect & Enjoy the Arts
Gather with friends and neighbors to celebrate live music and the performing arts at Mineral Springs Park with the Steven D. Skinner Performing Arts Venue! This state-of-the-art, outdoor event space provides a common area for community events like the Marigold Festival in addition to plays, musicals, dance recitals, concerts, and more. Replacing the outdated and out-of-service Show Mobile, this amazing new space offers a wonderful area for our community to enjoy special outdoor occasions.
The Design
The new Performing Arts Venue features an elevated stage and performance area measuring 45 feet wide across the front and 40 feet deep and includes an overhead shelter. Located in Mineral Springs Park, the venue is nestled at the base of the hillside just north of the hillside parking lot, in the location where the old restrooms were.
Highlights of the Performing Arts Venue include:
- Curved, laminated timber beams and tongue and groove wood decking under the roof will give the shelter a striking aesthetic.
- Supported by powder-coated steel posts, the shelter roof is angled and tapered to direct sound outward toward the audience and improve acoustics.
- Extra deep stairs spanning the entire front width of the stage will serve as risers for performances.
- Space for outdoor instruction and learning is included as well as casual seating when performances are not scheduled.
- Accessible ramps flank both sides of the stage.
- A 15-foot by 35-foot masonry building serves as the stage backdrop and houses the electrical and audio/visual equipment. This building can also be used for storage.
- The building is painted on the sides and rear to match the new restroom building and overall color scheme for building structures within Mineral Springs Park.
- An accessible concrete sidewalk has been constructed between existing ADA parking spaces in the hillside parking lot and the performance shelter. Another concrete sidewalk connection connects the shelter and the new restrooms to the northwest.
- A paved concrete patio area is in front of the performance stage for accessible seating and programming space.
- The venue is close to adequate parking, ADA accessible, and built with quality materials.
We have dedicated a space on the rear of the venue to recognize major donors, so their contribution is honored and remembered for the life of the building.
Meet the Fundraising Committee
Our campaign committee members are passionate about raising funds to offer the community A New View & Venue, helping people Connect & Enjoy the Arts. The new venue provides visitors with a view of the Lagoon while enjoying concerts and events. We’re proud to be part of the exciting future the new Steven D. Skinner Performing Arts Venue offers all ages of Pekin residents. As a community-based group, our committee members include several people who have given their time to longtime nonprofit organizations like the Pekin Park Concert Band, Pekin Marigold Festival, Pekin Civic Chorus, and the like.
The Funding Plan FAQ’s
No, the Pekin Park District has not pledged any tax dollars towards construction of the structure, although they will take on ownership of the structure and will maintain it into the future.
The committee is seeking grants as well as corporate and private contributions to fund the project. In addition, we are looking for opportunities to partner with local contractors and other vendors that may offer in-kind donations to offset cash expenses.
Click one of the two yellow ‘Donate’ buttons on this page.
Yes, Pekin Park Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, is providing the fund collection mechanism and will hold the dollars in a designated fund for this project.
Your support is vital… as we continue to help people connect, play…and now enjoy a new view & venue.
Thank you to our Performing Arts Venue donors!
- Advanced Medical Transport
- Aupperle Construction (In-Kind)
- Croxville Giving Fund
- Donald Jackson
- Rich & Nancy Kriegsman
- Caterpillar, Inc (CAT Match)
- CEFCU
- Dale & Lela Sandrock
- Pekin Park Foundation
- Timm & Christine Schwartz
- William Heaver & Janice Heaver, Tri-County Painting (In-Kind)
- Kenneth Wehr
- Matthew Skinner
- Alto Ingredients
- Ardith Skinner
- Bicentennial Dragon Jam
- Busey Bank
- Cakora Family Trust
- Julie Ann Friederich (Norma Yock Memorial)
- Keith Zimmerman Trust
- Kiwanis Club of Pekin
- Michael Burks (Stacy Burks Memorial)
- Ray Dennison Chevrolet
- Brett & Carolyn Bode
- The Carle Foundation
- Friends In Harmony
- Susan McMillan
- Valerie M. Moehle
- Louis Steger Trust
- Keith & Desiree Anderson (Celius R & Norman L. Anderson Memorial)
- Gary & Becky Gillis
- Jay & Peggy Goldberg
- Steve Skinner
- Alan & Juliet Duncanson
- Amy Trantham
- Barry & Catherine Slabaugh
- Brian & Jill Garman
- Camille McCarty
- Carol & Andy Groch, Jasmine Schultz (Celius R. & Norma L. Anderson Memorial)
- Christine & Larry Gottman (Frank & Lily Gottman Memorial)
- David & Jill Harlow Giving Fund
- David & Peggy Cole
- Dennis & Sue Crowell
- Don & Sheila Lutz
- Donald & Dolores Herrmann (Sandy & Marv Memorial)
- Dorothy Barker
- Dr. William Bond
- Enterprise
- F. Michael & Christine Schaefer
- Fred Altman
- Hope & Mark McAllister
- Jack & Sue Ann Kortcamp
- James & Floride Kidder
- Jean Glick
- Jeff Pulfer, Peoria German American Society
- Julie Ann Friederich
- Julie Sahlsten (Jean Wolfe Memorial)
- Kathleen Rowell Stripling (Dr. Lyndel C. Stripling Memorial)
- Kimberly Ritchhart
- Linda Garman (Kenneth Garman Memorial)
- Lisa & James McKenzie
- Lorelei & Timothy Weidner
- Marjorie Miller (Doug & Joanne Miller Memorial)
- Mike & Amy McCoy
- Paul McGowan
- Pekin Civic Chorus
- Pete & Tomi Ault & Family (Chuck & Jo Bussone Memorial)
- Randall McDaniels
- Red Roof LLC – Baylee Gambetti
- Richard & Mary Barthel
- Robert & Sandra Scheffler
- Robert Erich
- Scott & Joan Martin
- Shawn & Kim Taylor, Schwartz Electric
- Terry & Paula Davis
- Tim & Leslie (Bolam) Leitner (Richard & Gusta Bolam and Leo & Mary Leitner Memorial)
- Tom Paullin (Robert & Ellen Paullin Memorial)
- William & Melanie Fleming
- Alan & Annette Verpraet (Wilmadean Habberfield Memorial)
- Alan & Kim Hall (Jean Wolfe Memorial)
- Allen Thompson
- American Assoc of University Women
- Amy Meron
- Andrew Volz, Illini Plumbing
- Ann Heimer
- Ann Tunis
- Ann Tunis (Jean Wolfe Memorial)
- Aprile & Jim Smith
- Arlene Meyer
- Arvella Guidotti (Jean Wolfe Memorial)
- Bethany Houlihan
- Bicentennial Pekin Pavers Project – Cash
- Bicentennial Trivia Night
- Breanna Hamilton
- Brenda Nelson
- Bruce & Val Woll (Zayenga Memorial)
- Carmen McCoy (Jean Wolfe Memorial)
- Caroline Campbell
- Cash Donation
- Charity on Top
- Charles & Judy Cunningham
- Christie Ward
- Connie Moser
- Darlene Halstead (Jean Wolfe Memorial)
- Darren Rockhold
- Darylyn Leaver
- David & Nancy Drockleman (Jean Wolfe Memorial)
- David & Wanda McFee
- Deborah Elliott
- Denise Durrell & Kim Farlin
- Diana Thorne
- Don & Debbie Hild (Zayenga Memorial)
- Donald & Pamela Davis (John M. Kriegsman Memorial)
- Donald & Rene Bly (Jean Wolfe Memorial)
- Dori Smith
- Dorothy Barker (Jean Wolfe Memorial)
- Dr. Nelson & Barbara Wright (Jean Wolfe Memorial)
- Joanne Miller
- Gayle Mirande
- Genaro Cantu
- Gina Tillman
- Gloria Carney (Jean Wolfe Memorial)
- Harmonie Singers, Inc.
- Jacqueline Beever
- James Ruth
- Janet Euteneuer
- Janet Kinder (Gary Kinder Memorial)
- Jeff Karah
- Jennifer Cantrell
- Jerry & Debra Mahoney (Jean Wolfe Memorial)
- Jerry & Mary Anne Milam
- John & Ellen Curtin (Wilmadean Habberfield Memorial)
- John & Margarete Hall
- John & Susan McCabe
- John & Theresa Cotter (Kelly Vick Memorial)
- John Hamann
- Joyce M Cline
- Judy Kowalski
- Julie Ann Friedrich
- Julie Antonini
- Keith Bonnett
- Kenneth & Joanne Hess
- Kevin & Lynn Grebner
- Kim Anderson
- Larae Muselman
- Larry & Donna Mayberry (Jean Wolfe Memorial)
- Linda & Robert Wheeler (Zayenga Memorial)
- Lindsay O’Rourke
- Lori Scroggins (Wilmadean Hobberfield Memorial)
- Loveda S. Eisele (Wilmadean Habberfield Memorial)
- Mack & Rhonda Cakora (Jean Wolfe Memorial)
- Margaret Seelye
- Mary Ann Russell
- Mary Noonan (Anita Reed ’63 Memorial)
- McDaniels Marketing
- Miriam Dela Cruz (Jean Wolfe Memorial)
- Nancy Brown
- Nancy Wamack
- Pam Wolfe (Jean Wolfe Memorial)
- Patricia Knight
- Peggy Cole
- Peggy Mayo
- Pekin Park Concert Band
- PEO Sisterhood Chapter OE
- Phillip Newcomb
- Rich & Nancy Kriegsman (Jean Wolfe Memorial)
- Rick & Charmayne Sarff (Zayenga Memorial)
- Rick & Nancy Bogner (Zayenga Memorial)
- Rick & Sue Munge (Jean Wolfe Memorial)
- Rick Butler
- Rita O’Rourke
- Robert & Maxine Oliverius (Jean Wolfe Memorial)
- Robert Haas
- Robert, Jr. & Cheryl Lauterbach (Robert Lauterbach, Sr. Memorial)
- Roberta Aram Andrew
- Rodney Hagan
- Root Beer Fundraiser
- Ruth Kurtz
- Sally Lessen
- Sally Smith
- Sara Sombeck
- Sharon Danner
- St. Paul United Fellowship
- Stacy Campbell (Todd Campbell Memorial)
- Tammy Hicks (Jean Wolfe Memorial)
- Terri Gambetti
- Terri Garber & Steve Bresnahan (Zayenga Memorial)
- Tiffany White
- Tom & Lucy Elliott
- Valerie & Theodore Henry (Lovella & Charles Milburn Memorial)
- Valerie M Moehle (Zayenga Memorial)
- Vance & Pamela Rugaard (Zayenga Memorial)
- Wesley & Danielle Pollman
- William & Mary Ashbaker (Wilmadean Habberfield Memorial)