East Peoria approves $500,000 loan for renovations to family entertainment center

EAST PEORIA — The East Peoria City Council on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution to approve a $500,000 loan request from the Putt Club of East Peoria, a family entertainment center that opened last year.

Owners of the facility approached the city to ask for assistance with a “significant remodel” of their inside entertainment area, according to said Ty Livingston, the city’s director of planning and community development. The inside is in “high demand” during inclement weather, Livingston said.

The total remodel project cost is expected to be approximately $800,000, Livingston said. The loan will come from the city’s Revolving Loan Fund, which currently has about $650,000 available. The city’s loan review committee recommended a term of five years with a 5% interest rate.

“This location has been open for over a year now and has been a very successful tourism attraction for the region and a great complement to the Bass Pro store,” Livingston said in a memo to the council. “Given the amount requested here and the short 5-year window, the account is expected to replenish quickly to be able to assist future requests.”

The Putt Club , an 18,000 square-foot family entertainment complex, opened in June 2024. It features an indoor-outdoor miniature golf experience with an arcade and full-service kitchen.

Mini golf, restaurant and a bar: Inside the massive family entertainment center in East Peoria

In other business, Mayor John Kahl proclaimed that Sept. 12 and 13 would be the days of the Knights of Columbus Support Citizens with Intellectual Disabilities Tootsie Roll Drive in the city of East Peoria. Knights of Columbus Spalding Council 427 will raise funds and hand out Tootsie Rolls at local retailers.

Kahl noted that the Tootsie Roll drive is in its 56th year and called on citizens to support “this most worthwhile and humanitarian effort.” In a preview of the fundraiser, Spalding Council 427 members Jerry Campen and Jim Wygle made the rounds of Council chambers to hand out Tootsie Rolls and collect early donations.

Kahl also designated Sept. 11 as Patriot Day in the city and announced that East Peoria will observe National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month throughout September.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: East Peoria Council approves $500,000 loan for Putt Club renovations