City of Joliet Rededicates Route 66 Park
The City of Joliet and community partners gathered today to celebrate the rededication of Route 66 Park at the Broadway Street Greenway. Over the past year, city staff have overseen significant improvements to the park, including new signs at the entrances and on the nearby Rich & Creamy Ice Cream stand building, as well as new interpretive signs detailing Joliet’s history and enhanced landscaping. Notable selfie opportunities include a giant neon Route 66 shield and a large “Greetings from Joliet” postcard.
Joliet Mayor Terry D’Arcy welcomed attendees and shared some historical facts about the park, dating back to the early 1990s. “In 1991, the city initiated the ambitious Broadway Street Greenway project, aiming to enhance its northern gateway by transforming the east side of Broadway Street from the Ruby Street Bridge to Theodore Street into a tree-lined linear park overlooking the Des Plaines River,” explained D’Arcy.
“By the early 2000s, the city successfully transitioned the land just north of Ruby to Ingalls into a 7-acre linear park that included this ice cream stand, which many of you may remember as Kreamy Delight. It also features a 1/3-mile paved path meandering through the Greenway and a playground. In 2007, the city received a state tourism grant to add Route 66-themed elements, officially branding this site as ‘Route 66 Park,’” D’Arcy added.
Route 66 Park will also feature an 8-foot-tall Steelman statue. City Planner Jayne Bernhard stated, “When we were considering what unique feature to include at the park, we kept returning to the iconic Steelman. I’ll admit, I am a Steelwoman myself—Class of 2000. We approached Joliet Township High School (JTHS) about replicating a giant Steelman for the park, and the JTHS board and administration enthusiastically agreed.”
Local sculptors Angelica Cristal, Jeff Benedick, and Kyle Hoover are fabricating the 8-foot-tall Steelman from stainless steel. The installation of this statue has faced production delays, so a special dedication event is scheduled for April 2025.
Enhancements to Route 66 Park were funded by a Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Route 66 Grant. Heritage Corridor Destinations, the region’s convention and visitors bureau, manages the grant awards for this program locally.
Now in its fourth year, the Route 66 grant program has secured over $1 million in funding for Joliet area projects that promote and enhance the Route 66 tourist experience, including initiatives sponsored by the City of Joliet, the Rialto Square Theater, the Joliet Area Historical Museum, and the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66. These projects also improve the quality of life for Joliet area residents.
Today, the 7-acre linear park spans approximately 2,000 feet along the east side of Broadway Street, from just south of Ross Street to Ingalls Avenue. In addition to Route 66 Park and Rich & Creamy, the Greenway features a 1/3-mile paved path lined with benches and receptacles, as well as an arboretum showcasing a variety of plant species identified with tags.
Route 66 Park at the Broadway Street Greenway is open year-round, while the Rich & Creamy Ice Cream shop operates from April through October. Bill Gulas, owner of Rich & Creamy, noted that he enjoys meeting people from all over the world who are traveling Route 66. He mentioned that out-of-town travelers tend to stop by between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., while locals arrive in the late afternoon and evening.