COMMUNITY PROFILE
Authored by: Ryan McGrath - Lead Consultant Debra Barnish - Formatting and Integration Consultant Blake Changnon - Visual Representation Consultant Jason Wong - Formatting and Integration/Visual Representation Consultant
4
Acknowledgements We would like to thank everyone on the City of Pontiac's leadership team for welcoming us with open arms to their city and allowing us learn and grow from this proposal.
We would like to thank our teaching assistant, Chungsup Lee, for all of his hard work and dedication in helping class go smoothly each and everyday.
Lastly, we would like to thank our instructor, Jonathan Hicks, who taught us everything we needed to know to complete this proposal. Jonathan’s dedication to class and helping each of us is greatly appreciated. We would not be where we are today without him.
Introduction Recreation and tourism based amenities are the best catalysts to build a sense of community for residents and visitors alike because these experiences bring people together through shared experiences, fostering a sense of belonging and interconnectedness that we all innately strive for. By building an authentic, one-of a kind sense of community within Pontiac, residents’ quality of life will improve, tourists will create memorable experiences and a strong sense of place attachment, and the city of Pontiac will benefit economically.
We are proposing that a 6.5 trail system, redesigning the Route 66 Courtyard, developing the Vermillion Plaza, and special programs such as tours and festivals will encompass Pontiac’s unique history and culture, and will improve Pontiac’s recreation and tourism offerings in a way that fosters a true sense of community and will produce economic benefits for the city of Pontiac.
This document will be broken into seven sections. The community profile chapter will lay the framework as to what Pontiac currently consists of, what they are doing well and what needs to be improved. The vision development chapter will show the specific project descriptions and give visual representations for each project. The programming chapter will
5
develop special events and program plans. The community engagement chapter will develop marketing strategies, and create promotional materials. The monitoring, maintenance, and safety chapter will establish monitoring protocols, create a maintenance plan, and establish safety protocols. The finance and budget chapter will show the costs as well as revenue projections for these projects, and the future projects chapter will explain opportunities for Pontiac to continue growing well after these projects are implemented.
We believe that the content presented throughout this document will greatly improve the recreation and tourism based opportunities in Pontiac. This will help bolster Pontiac’s reputation as a premier tourist destination and provide greater recreation based services for Pontiac residents of all demographics. These projects will not only have a positive economic impact on
Pontiac, but also have a positive social impact on Pontiac by creating a sense of community among residents and a strong sense of place attachment among tourists.
Vision/ Mission/ Goals/ Objectives
● RST 341 Class Definition of Community ○ A community is a group of individuals who support each other in working
towards common goals and interests, brought together by common experiences.
● Proposed Vision Statement for the City of Pontiac, IL ○ The City of Pontiac will become a destination for new beginnings.
● Mission Statement for RST 341 ○ To develop projects that will bring together Pontiac residents and visitors.
● Goals ○ To bring new ideas into the City of Pontiac
○ To foster and enhance the sense of history in the City of Pontiac
○ To help residents and tourists alike appreciate what Pontiac has to offer
6
○ To encourage growth and improvement in the City of Pontiac
● Objectives ○ Research and analyze existing conditions in the city
○ Propose ideas for improving existing conditions and adding new elements
○ Fully outline suggestions taking into consideration safety concerns, cost, and logistics
Unless otherwise noted, all objectives will be accomplished by April 29, 2016.
Selective Heritage
The Name Behind Pontiac
● The area that would become the City of Pontiac were plains that were home to the Illini,
Potawatomi, and Kickapoo Indians. However, it wasn't until 1837, that Livingston
County was established by an act of the Illinois Congress and made the county seat. The
name, Pontiac, came as a suggestion from landowner Jesse Fell, who had admired the
great Indian chief.
Pontiac Correctional Center
● The Pontiac Correctional Center was opened in 1871. The facility is classified as
maximum security, and can house up to 2298 inmates. Currently, the jail hosts 1400
inmates, and provides jobs for 700 citizens. Despite the size and importance of this
facility, it is by no means the only famous jail in Pontiac. The old jail site located near
the river is just as memorable. Although this building is extremely old, closed off, and
falling apart, it is still a historical landmark in the city.
Chautauqua Assemblies
● These assemblies were started in 1847 by Dr. John H. Vincent. They started out as a way
to help standardize religious instruction. The very first meeting was held at Lake
7
Chautauqua in New York and lasted for two weeks. Eventually, Chautauqua assemblies
became more popular and spread to a variety of states. The content also expanded quite a
bit to include various forms of entertainment. The first Chautauqua in Pontiac occurred
in 1898 and was led by A.C. Folsom. The Pontiac Chautauqua Assembly continued until
1929. The assemblies held in Pontiac are considered by many to be some of the most
successful that occurred west of Pennsylvania.
Trails, Parks, Etc.
● The City of Pontiac offers ten different parks for their residents and tourists to use
throughout the year. Some of the parks include the Humiston Woods Nature Center,
Dargan Park, Fell Park and more. These parks offer something for everyone including
trails and playground equipment, as well as basketball courts and baseball fields. In
addition to the parks and amenities that currently exist, it is important to note the several
historical recreation facilities. One of the most meaningful facilities is the old pool.
Although this pool is now too old and unsafe be used, it is a nostalgic site for many in the
Pontiac area. Many people feel a strong emotional attachment because of the 80 years
worth of memories that exist there.
Basketball Interest
● The City of Pontiac has had such a love for basketball that they currently host the Pontiac
Holiday Tournament. This tournament has been the nation’s oldest and best High School
basketball tournament for the past 85 years. The City of Pontiac has such enthusiasm for
basketball that they are teaming up with Illinois Basketball Coaches Association to create
the Basketball Museum of Illinois, which will house their Hall of Fame and offices. The
8
new museum will be located at Pontiac's Vermillion Plaza within the former KMart
building.
Route 66
• Route 66 was commissioned in 1926 and is considered by many to be one of the most
famous highways in the world. Commonly known as the “Mother Road,” Route 66 links
Illinois to California while passing through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona,
and New Mexico. Naturally, this highway played a major role in the country’s history,
and even crossed paths with Abraham Lincoln’s history as well. Various towns along the
route embrace the history of the highway and do their best to preserve these attractions.
Pontiac is no exception. The town is especially connected with Route 66 and does all it
can to highlight the history and culture surrounding the classic highway. There is a
museum devoted to the route and the era it embodied, as well as the iconic Route 66
mural. Although the route is not commonly used for technical travel, 250,000 people
drive the route each year for the historic significance and attractions.
9
Analysis of Existing Conditions
● Murals on Main Street: Throughout the city of Pontiac there are various murals on
display. Each of these murals was painted by a group of artists known as the Wall
Dogs. In just four days during the summer of 2009, the artists finished eighteen
murals. Perhaps the most well known mural is the Route 66 shield. This mural is
located on the back of the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame. All of the murals are
visible from the car and can easily be accessed on foot. There are mural guides
available in several museums, as well as red footprints that will guide visitors to
all the murals.
RCA Victor - Artists: Bernie Gietal, Bernie Sidewalk Shark - Artist: Tang Dongbai Lohmeyer, and Bernie Poff
1926: Route 66 and Pontiac Auto - Artist: Tang Daniels Oil Co. - Artist: Diaz Sign Art Dongbai
10
● Route 66 Mural: The Route 66 mural, aside from being the largest, is probably the
most well known mural in the town. This mural depicts the Route 66 shield on a
backdrop of various city skylines. A red ribbon across the shield says ‘Pontiac,
Illinois.’ The mural is located on the back of the Route 66 museum. This mural is
so iconic that it was featured in a National Geographic calendar.
● Museums and Exhibits
○ Route 66 Museum and Hall of Fame: This museum is home to numerous
pieces of memorabilia from the era of Route 66. Visitors can learn about
the history of Route 66, as well as the history of the nation during the time
of Route 66. The importance of this historic national byway is highlighted
11
by the different artifacts and stories on display at the museum. The
museum also includes two vehicles that were owned by Bob Waldmire.
○ Pontiac-Oakland Automobile Museum: The Pontiac-Oakland Automobile
Museum was opened in the summer of 201. Inside this museum, visitors
can view a large collection of antique cars as well as Pontiac and Oakland
brand items. This museum is also home to a collection of over 2000 oil
cans.
○ Livingston County War Museum: This museum was opened in 2005 by
World War II veteran Dal Estes. He and his wife had a dream to honor
those who served and to teach others of their sacrifices. The captivating
museum is full of artifacts, weapons, and uniforms from the last one
hundred years of American Warfare history. Every piece has been
donated, and there are always more donations coming in. The exhibit is
staffed by veterans who strive to educate visitors with their experiences
12
and stories. Although small, the museum has been visited by people from
all fifty states as well as seventy-two countries.
○ Museum of the Gilding Arts: This museum is one of the newest editions to
the city of Pontiac. Opened in June of 2012, the museum educates visitors
on the process and history of gilding. Aside from beautiful decor and
artifacts, the exhibits offer a unique learning experience.
○ Walldog Mural Exhibit: This museum provides history and other
information about the Walldogs. The exhibit is dedicated to preserving
murals and educating visitors about this unique artform. New exhibits are
13
always being added, and the museum strives to preserve this art for future
generations.
○ Livingston County Historical Society’s Local History Exhibit and
Courthouse: The Livingston County Historical Society is devoted to
preserving the history of the area. Although the society focuses on the
three historical homes in Pontiac, they also maintain a museum of local
history inside the Livingston County Courthouse. This small exhibit
includes prehistoric artifacts as well as items dating back to the settlement
of the area. The courthouse itself, built in 1875, is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places.
○ The Bob Waldmire Experience: Bob Waldmire was born on April 19,
1945 and died on December 16, 2009. He was a renown artist and
cartographer, known best for his artwork of Route 66. He spent a great
deal of his life traveling on the historic route living out of his vehicle. The
exhibit features examples of Waldmire’s art as well as stories of his life.
14
There is also the opportunity to view Waldmire’s VW van as well as tour
his customized road yacht.
Bob Walmire’s road yacht
○ Life in the 1940’s Exhibit: This exhibit can be found on the second floor
of the museum complex. Rob Selle and Darlene Agner are the founders of
of the exhibit devoted to preserving the culture and artifacts of the 1940’s.
Some of these unique artifacts include newspapers headlining World War
II, furniture, and various knick knacks.
○ Music of the Civil War Exhibit: This exhibit was started by Ron Selle and
Darlene Agner. The exhibit seeks to educate visitors on the music that
was popular during the Civil War era. As Agner narrates the history, Selle
sings excerpts from some of the most well known songs of the past. The
pair bring to life the emotions of the country during the Civil War. The
songs are from various different categories including Antebellum National
Anthems, Most Popular Union Songs, Most Popular Confederate Songs,
Popular Songs of Both North and South, Patriotic Songs, Emancipation
15
Songs, Songs of Home Life, Songs of the Soldier’s Life, Songs of
Battlefield Death, and Songs of Mother.
○ Pontiac Community Art Center: The community art center is devoted to
nurturing the creativity of various local artists. The facility offers classes,
displays artwork, and serves as a retail location for art. They have a
different display each month to draw attention to the talented artists in the
Pontiac area.
○ Dongbai International Airbrush Art School: In 2012, Tang Dongbai - a native of
Bejing, China - opened this art school. Since the opening, Dongbai has been
instructing a number of students in the airbrushing artform. In addition to
traditional methods of airbrushing, Dongbai also instructs pupils in UV
airbrushing. Some of the renowned artist’s work is on display in the studio. The
art is truly breathtaking and unique. In addition to teaching others the techniques
16
of airbrushing, Dongbai also does work airbrushing cars, motorcycles, murals,
and clothing.
○ Pontiac’s Art Cars: During the warmer months of the year, the downtown area of
Pontiac is decoration with fifteen small cars. Each of these cars has been painted
17
by local artists. The cars reside outside various attractions and make excellent
photo opportunities.
● Historical Landmarks
○ Old County Jail: The old jail site is located near the river and has a lot of
historical significance. However, because the building is so old, it is in abysmal
condition. The interior paint is peeling, and there is debris on the floor. The
building does have potential, but there is a lot of work that must go into it.
○ The Jones House: The Jones House was built in 1858, and is the oldest brick
home in the city of Pontiac. Because of its age, the house is on the National
18
Register of Historic Places. This house was built in the Gothic Revival style, and
is available for tours by appointment.
○ The Yost House: The Yost House was built in the Queen-Anne style. The home
was owned by the same family for almost one hundred years, and it still contains
the original family furnishings from the 1870s. This home is also open for tours
upon appointment.
○ The Strevell House: The Strevell House is a historic home that also serves as a
Looking for Lincoln site. This house is the only house left in the county where
19
Abraham Lincoln spent time. The home is currently being restored to its original
quality in the hopes of turning it into a museum.
○ Lincoln Trail: As a young lawyer, Abraham Lincoln spend a bit of time in Pontiac
representing various citizens. Lincoln’s funeral train even passed right through
town. Because of his activity in the town, there are several Looking for Lincoln
sites throughout Pontiac. In fact, Pontiac has the most Looking for Lincoln sites
outside of Springfield, with a total of twelve different locations. Some of the
exhibits include the Lincoln/Strevell Mural, the Strevell house, and a cabin that
Lincoln slept in.
○ Historic Swinging Bridges: The city of Pontiac has three unique swinging
pedestrian bridges that cross the Vermillion River. These bridges were originally
20
built to allow people who lived on one side of the river to get to their jobs on the
other side of the river more easily. The first bridge reaches from Riverside Drive
to Play Park. The second bridge connects Play Park to Chautauqua Park. Finally,
the third bridge is located in Humiston-Riverside Park.
● Recreation Facilities
○ Community Recreation Center: The recreation center consists of a 50000
square foot building connected to a pool. The center has a wide variety of
facilities. These include: three full sized basketball courts (also suitable
for volleyball and badminton), an elevated track, a racquetball court, a
dance room with mirrors, a cardio room with treadmills etc., a
senior/community room with TVs and tables, two classrooms, a multi-
purpose room for golf and baseball/softball hitting, a swimming pool, six
tennis courts, and a weight area. The recreation center offers a wide
21
variety of programs and classes. The main demographic used for the
target market tends to be senior citizens.
○ Pontiac Rec-Plex: The Rec-Plex is an outdoor recreation facility located
near the jail. The Rec-Plex offers several amenities including: five
baseball/softball fields, one football field, four basketball courts, four sand
volleyball courts, six tennis courts, and a playground. The Draco dog park
is also near the Rec-Plex.
○ Pontiac Elks Country Club and Golf Course: The Pontiac Elks Lodge
1019 country club offers a restaurant, bar, pool, and lounge. The facility
also maintains a golf course and a pro shop. This facility puts on various
programs for its members such as an Easter Bunny Brunch, and Easter egg
hunt, and a Fourth of July celebration. The country club is also available
for wedding receptions.
○ The Eagle Performing Arts and Conference Center: The Eagle Theater can
hold up to 300 people. In addition to being a stage for the performing arts
as well as movies, the facility also serves as a convention center and can
be furnished with tables and chairs. The building is also ADA accessible.
22
The space has been refurbished to accommodate everyone while also
being beautiful and unique.
● Natural Resources
○ Humiston Woods Nature Center: The woods consist of 355 acres of
hardwood forest and eight acres of restored prairie. The center was
originally a scout camp, but has grown much since then. The facility now
includes seven trails, two pavilions, four picnic areas, a fishing pond, and
a canoe dock. There are three different ADA accessible areas as well.
23
○ Parks: Pontiac offers ten different parks with various different
opportunities:
■ Chautauqua Park - Disc golf course, playground equipment, two
picnic pavilions, swinging bridge
■ Jaycee Park - Baseball field, batting cage, playground equipment
■ Dargan Park - Sculptures, playground equipment, picnic pavilion
■ Play Park - Baseball field, boat ramp, disc golf course, playground
equipment, swinging bridge
■ Humiston-Riverside Park - Playground equipment, swinging
bridge, new band shell
■ Kiwanis-Humiston Park - Baseball field, two tennis courts,
playground equipment
■ Fell Park - Basketball court, skate park, playground equipment
■ Westview Park - Picnic pavilion, playground equipment
■ Lions Park - Baseball field, basketball court, playground
equipment
● Activities
○ Pontiac Charm Trail: The various attractions in the downtown area of
Pontiac have a charm trail that links them together. Each attraction offers
either a single charm or a selection of a few different charms for visitors to
purchase and add to their bracelets. There are signs in the windows of
participating venues. The participating attractions include: Lydia’s cup
(restaurant), Diaz Sign Art, Lili’s Gifts, Route 66 Hall of Fame and
24
Museum, PROUD of Illinois Marketplace, Mojo’s Majik, Community Art
Center, Charmed Boutique, Home Again Gifts and Souvenirs, Creative
Nook, Pontiac Oakland Auto Museum, Pontiac Family Kitchen, and
Kristy’s Tranquility Massage and Reiki.
○ Pontiac Frisbee Golf: Pontiac offers a unique experience with its disc golf
course. The course spans Chautauqua Park and Play Park and includes
eighteen holes. This course is unique in the fact that it is the only course
that requires players to throw over a river. There is a tournament held
every spring at this location.
○ Bike Path: Pontiac offers a small bike path through part of the town. The
trail is fairly short at about 1.14 miles and travels in a fairly straight line.
● Amenities ○ Restaurants: There are a number of restaurants that are unique to Pontiac:
■ The Apple Tree Restaurant
■ Baby Bulls
■ Chumps ad Bonz
25
■ David’s Restaurant
■ Edinger’s Filling Station
■ Elliott’s Corner Junction
■ Hungry Boys
■ Lydia’s Cup
■ Old Log Cabin
■ Pontiac Buffet
■ Pontiac Family Kitchen
■ Pfaff’s Bakery
■ Scotty’s Place
○ Hotels: Best Western, Fiesta Motel, Quality Inn, and Super 8
26
Demographics
According to the 2010 United States Census Bureau, the approximate population of
Pontiac, Illinois is 11,931. The median age is 39, with the median household income coming in at $48,435. There are approximately 4,592 total housing units, and about 14.2% of individuals who live below the poverty level. There are approximately 674 business in Pontiac as well as
962 Veterans. Currently, the City of Pontiac seems to focus on recreation to residents 65 and older. This age group only makes up 14% of Pontiac's population and will likely become smaller as the years go by. Pontiac should focus their attention on residents between the ages of 25 and
64, as these age groups comprise up more than 50% of Pontiac total population. In addition, there is something to be said to provide recreation to residents under the age of 18. This population measures about 21%. However, it is plain to see from the age distribution graph below, that the next age demographic (18-24) decreases by half. Although some of this can be credited to residents leaving for college, it is obvious that a great deal of them do not return to the city upon graduation. Perhaps if there were more recreational opportunities targeted towards this age group, more of them would be inclined to stay and live in the City of Pontiac
27
The two graphs below represent the age and race distribution in Pontiac.
Age Distribution:
Race Distribution:
28
Visitor Demographics
According to Ellie Alexander, the Director of Tourism, the City of Pontiac does not track visitor age, gender, or race. However, the city does collect the total visitors by year (which are then sorted by point of origin, as well as if they were part of a group or not) as well as country of origin.
Below is chart displaying visitor count by year, as well as a list of visitors country of origin.
List of Visitors Country of Origin:
29
Future Visitor Estimate at Proposed Kmart Site
According to Ellie Alexander, the Director of Tourism, “The principals involved in the development of the old Kmart plaza are projecting annual visitor counts between 15,000 and
20,000. That range of visitors is based on [their] research into ventures of a similar nature and size.”
Needs Assessment
After the trip to Pontiac, IL with the whole class, we realized that there are many missing pieces to build a better community in Pontiac in terms of leisure and recreational activities. The city of Pontiac wants to bring in more leisure opportunities for their current residents. Although we noticed that a large part of the population living in Pontiac is middle-aged adults and elders, there are still children, teens and young adults who are seeking for recreational opportunities within the community. Based on the notes we took throughout the trip, we noticed that residents want an outdoor pool to replace the old one in Chautauqua Park. The one in Chautauqua Park is no longer in use, nor is it well-maintained. The old pool is not capable of being renovated because of the flood problems in the area. The residents have been requesting the city of Pontiac to build a new outdoor pool somewhere else. They want to have more leisure activities within the city. Despite the lacking leisure opportunities for residents, we have made observations that the city has great tourist attractions such as museums and landmarks.
Other than building an outdoor pool, the city of Pontiac also needs to work on a project with the KMart store. This site presents a great opportunity for growth in terms of the city’s economic status, and can attract a lot of tourists from all over the world. The KMart site has a current plan of renovating the building to have one side be a basketball hall of fame exhibit and the other side be a route 66 car museum. Hopefully there will be new retail stores alongside the
30
two new museums. The local residents and tourists can have an opportunity to explore the car museum and take certain cars for a test drive. This is a great opportunity for Pontiac to generate some revenue since most of their other museums are free admission. Other than having a car museum, the city of Pontiac can collaborate with Dongbai’s artwork. They can use Dongbai’s artwork to paint on various cars, similar to what he has done in the past. This can bring excitement to the cars. In addition, there is the possibility of auctioning off some of the cars with his artwork on it.
Another way the residents of Pontiac can enjoy the KMart site with the new ideas is with a bike trail system. The city of Pontiac needs a bike trail system that connects the KMart site to downtown Pontiac. This trail system will connect the entire city of Pontiac and can bring all the residents together. The bike trail system should have entrances and exits throughout the whole trail so people can leave or enter whenever they want. One starting point for the trial system can be at the old county jail site. The old county jail site can be renovated to become a historic site with a story behind it. This has the potential to become a history trails theme. It would be nice if all the parks in the city are connected through this trail system which would allow individuals to bike, run, or walk to and from the various attractions. The city of Pontiac offers ten different parks with a variety of different activities. If combined into one big trail system that leads from one park to another park, different types of leisure opportunities can be created.
After touring the city for a longer time, we noticed that there are local businesses that are important in terms of revenue for the community. The local restaurants and shops create a sense of community. Some of the antique stores that we walked by sell lots of unique goods. Because of these stores being local businesses, they often do not attract the tourists as much. The city of
31
Pontiac should promote these stores more in their tourist attraction brochures. Local residents enjoy the antique stores and local businesses.
The murals and paintings they see around the city gives the residents a sense of pride. We saw lots of paintings and murals on the walls throughout the downtown area of the city of
Pontiac. Some even have a background information as to why the painting was made there.
Other than the murals and paintings, there are buildings within the town that have history behind them. Because the residents have such a big pride on what the city of Pontiac has to offer, we can use that pride to create a nice tourist attraction. Connecting all the buildings and sites with the trail system would bring together everything into one piece.
Bringing together every part of the city would create an excellent leisure recreation opportunity. Rebuilding or remodeling the current buildings that are old and changing up the appearance can create a new experience for the residents. The residents need new leisure recreation activities such as a mini water park inside a hotel. This can attract tourists to stay the night and possibly play in the water park the next day. This can be a great opportunity for families to come together to play at the water park. Both residents and tourists can enjoy a fun time with the all-year round water park.
SWOT Analysis of the City of Pontiac
Through our SWOT analysis we identified the strengths and weaknesses with the current recreation and tourism amenities in Pontiac, as well as opportunities for growth and threats that do and/or could potentially hinder growth for Pontiac’s recreation and tourism.
Strengths include Pontiac’s connection to Route 66, a large number of photo ops (in large part due to the Wall Dog Murals), museums, historical components, park space located by the
Vermillion River, outdoor recreation opportunities, a good variety of sport facilities for a town of
32
Pontiac’s size, a strong emphasis on arts & culture, an appealing small town America feel, and the willingness/ability of city leaders to implement change in a relatively short amount of time.
Weaknesses include the lack of a clear and unified vision among city leaders, disconnect between local government and residents, lack of a trail system, the under utilization of the lot with the Route 66 mural and Waldmire Bus, lack of social media presence, lack of recreation for teens and adults in Pontiac, and a lack of weights at the Rec Center,
Opportunities identified that would boost recreation and tourism in Pontiac if properly integrated include getting tourists from Chicago and St. Louis to visit Pontiac via the high speed rail stop being built in Pontiac, renovating the courtyard with the Route 66 Mural and Waldmire
Bus, adding green space to the parking lot where the IHSA Basketball Hall of Fame and Route
66 Car Museum will go, finding ways to further utilize Pontiac’s unique history, implementing more special events that appeal to both residents and tourists, and targeting tourists more effectively outside of the April through September tourism season.
Threats identified include an aging Route 66 target market, frequent flooding and lack of sufficient water management systems, competition with nearby cities in Illinois and other Route
66 destinations, and state budget concerns.
● Strengths
○ Route 66 Connection
■ Pontiac has done an excellent job capitalizing on their connection to the
historic Route 66. Pontiac’s city leaders helped create the Route 66
museum 12 years ago and developed almost their whole tourism industry
from their Route 66 connection. Pontiac’s identity is largely tied to Route
66 now, whereas before it was more so known for the prison. Without this
33
strong connection to Route 66, Pontiac could have easily just been another
small town in Central Illinois with a seemingly non-existent tourism
industry. It is clear by talking with city leaders that they want to continue
to add attractions that will make Pontiac the premier Route 66 destination.
○ Wall Dog Mural (Photo Ops)
■ One of the things that the city of Pontiac seems to be most proud of is the
18 outdoor murals painted by the Walldogs (a collection of sign painters
and muralists) in the Summer of 2009. These murals give Pontiac a unique
identity and aesthetic appeal that tourists love. A clear tourism advantage
for Pontiac that differentiates it from other Route 66 destinations is the
number and quality of one-of-a-kind photo ops located throughout
Pontiac.
○ Museums
■ Pontiac’s tourism is largely connected to their museums located in
downtown Pontiac. Pontiac has 4 main museums (Route 66 Museum,
Pontiac-Oakland Automobile Museum, Livingston County War Museum,
and the Museum of the Gilding Arts) as well as 5 popular exhibits (The
Bob Waldmire Experience, Life in the 1940s Exhibit, Wall Dog Mural
Exhibit, Music of the Civil War Exhibit, and Livingston County Historical
Society’s Local History Exhibit). These museums and exhibits are the
primary motivation for coming to visit Pontiac. The museums have a good
variety and are all within close proximity, making them easy to tour in
succession.
34
○ Historical Components
■ Alongside the museum's, visitors of Pontiac frequently visit the city’s
historical sights. Livingston County Courthouse (built in 1875) is the
centerpiece of Pontiac and is listed on the National Register of Historic
Places. Three historic homes (Jones House, Strevell House, and Yost
House) are also located throughout Pontiac and give tourists a first-hand
view of homes built before the turn of the 20th century. Pontiac also shows
their connection to Abraham Lincoln with 12 site and exhibit locations
throughout Pontiac.
○ Park Space Along Vermillion River
■ Pontiac has three parks (Humiston-Riverside Park, Chataqua Park, and
Play Park) located along the Vermillion River. These parks have plenty of
open green space and scenic views, as well as three swinging bridges
(including one that connects Humiston-Riverside Park and Play Park). The
park space that Pontiac has along the Vermillion river is a valuable asset
for tourists and residents alike.
○ Outdoor Recreation Opportunities
■ The Humiston Woods Nature Center gives residents plenty of
opportunities for outdoor recreation such as hiking along the 7 trails
located in the park, fishing, canoeing and picnic areas. These areas create
a diverse offering of outdoor recreation opportunities for Pontiac residents.
○ Large Variety of Sport Facilities
35
■ Pontiac has a wide variety of sport and fitness facilities for a town of its
size. The Rec Center contains an indoor pool, 3 indoor basketball courts,
an indoor track, racquetball courts, cardio equipment, a batting/driving net
and some weight machines. The Rec Plex has baseball diamonds, a
football field, and a sand volleyball court. Pontiac also has two 18-hole
golf courses, several tennis courts, a skate park, outdoor basketball courts
and disc golf.
○ Arts & Culture
■ It was clear from visiting Pontiac that they place major emphasis on arts
and culture. The city recently renovated one of the buildings located
downtown to create the Eagle Theater, which is used for performing arts
and conventions. City leaders also showed us the studio of world
renowned airbrush artist Tang Dongbai. Located downtown is an art
gallery where local artists can display and sell their works. City leaders
also heavily endorsed the Vermillion Players (the local amateur theater
group) during our visit. A bandshell was also built in Humiston -Riverside
Park a few years ago, which gives the opportunity to host outdoor
performances in the warmer months.
○ Friendly Small Town America Feel
■ Downtown Pontiac has what many people would see as your ideal image
of small town America with its small locally owned shops and restaurants,
and polite/ engaging community. From what we have heard from Pontiac
city leaders, this type of friendly small town America vibe is a large part
36
of what is so appealing to international tourists and has them coming back
to Pontiac for multiple visits.
○ City Leaders Able to Make Change Quickly
■ Pontiac city leaders have been able to identify an area where they could
create a niche tourism market in Pontiac by utilizing their connection to
Route 66. Pontiac is now a sought after tourism destination for people
across the world. This has stimulated Pontiac’s economy and helped
develop a more positive identity. Pontiac leaders continue to show a major
interest in economic development through further enhancing their tourism
industry. This shows the ability of Pontiac city leaders to implement
change effectively and take risks.
● Weaknesses
○ Lack of a Clear and Unified Vision
■ In our discussion with Pontiac city leaders it seemed that they don’t have a
clear and unified vision for the city of Pontiac. By having a clearly defined
and unified vision among city leaders, decisions made would reflect
Pontiac’s values and beliefs, as well as generate a common goal, and give
the entire city government something to move towards together. By
creating and implementing a unified vision, Pontiac city leaders would
clarify their direction and purpose, set standards of excellence, bridge the
present with the future, inspire enthusiasm and commitment, and be more
ambitious, thereby leading to even greater success.
37
■ Pontiac city leaders have had success capitalizing on opportunities that
arise, an example being the Pontiac- Oakland Automobile Museum’s
creation after the donation of Oil Cans. It is not a bad thing to be adaptable
and be able to capitalize on opportunities, but when you rely on
opportunities to arise, you are relying upon things out of your control to
shape your future. With a more visionary type mindset, Pontiac city
leaders will create their own future in alignment with their values and
beliefs.
○ Disconnect Between Local Government and Residents
■ Another theme that was noticed is a disconnect between city leaders and
Pontiac residents. It was clear in our visit that Pontiac city leaders place
their primary emphasis on tourism, and their current tourism amenities
largely cater to older age groups. 58.9% of Pontiac residents are under the
age of 45 and 86% under the age of 65, meaning that a majority of Pontiac
residents aren’t likely to be interested in the museums that local
government has put so much emphasis on; also, these are one time
destinations that don’t offer continued use to local residents without
frequent special events in place at these sites. If Pontiac city leaders focus
more of their efforts and resources on implementing programs and
building facilities that have mutual benefit to tourists and residents of
younger age groups, they will more effectively be catering to the needs of
the people they serve and have a better relationship with Pontiac residents.
○ Trail System
38
■ Pontiac currently only has one bike trail that is 1.14 miles long and is
simply a straight path. Strong trail systems add indirect revenue per visitor
(benefiting tourism) and have a significant positive impact on life
expectancy and quality of life for residents. Pontiac’s lack of a trail system
make the city’s attractions and points of interest seem disconnected and
less accessible.
○ Route 66 Mural/ Waldmire Bus Parking Lot
■ The Route 66 Mural and Waldmire Bus are a few of the biggest attractions
along all of Route 66 and arguably the biggest attractions in Pontiac. The
environment surrounding these areas, however, takes away from the
beauty of these attractions and prevents it from living up to its full
potential. Instead of an environment that supports these attractions, the
area is thrown in a parking lot with dumpsters as the backdrop. The Route
66 Mural is the biggest photo op in Pontiac, and the Waldmire bus is a
favorite of many Pontiac tourists. The environment around these areas not
only takes away from the attractions themselves, but also makes it to
where people don’t want to spend any prolonged time enjoying this area.
○ Lack of Social Media Presence
■ The ever expanding reach and influence of technology has made social
media arguably the most pervasive and effective form of marketing that
we have today (especially amongst younger populations). Pontiac’s
current internet presence to attract tourists is solely their website. They are
at a disadvantage because many of their competitors are using various
39
forms of social media like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to
successfully attract tourists of varying demographics. By not being up to
date with an effective social media presence, Pontiac is putting themselves
at a disadvantage with their competition both in Illinois as well as other
Route 66 destinations.
○ Lack of Recreation for Adults and Teens in Pontiac
■ It seems that Pontiac does not have a lot to offer adults and teens that are
visiting, and more importantly, that live in the community. As was
indicated in the demographics section, it appears that Pontiac residents
who move away for college are unlikely to move back after graduation.
We believe that is in large part due to a lack of recreation based
opportunities for residents under 65 years old. Outside of sports leagues
that play once a week, fitness classes, and occasional events, there doesn’t
currently seem to be many recreation offerings for adults in Pontiac.
○ Lack of Weights in Rec Center
■ The only resistance training that the Rec Center has to offer is five weight
machines, and there is no selection of free weights. When asked why this
was the case, the Rec Center Director said that it was because they didn’t
want to “step on the feet” of other businesses in the area. People are not
usually going to buy memberships to multiple gyms, therefore, you have
to worry about fulfilling your customer's’ need first and foremost. Almost
all gym users of younger ages as well as many older users place their
primary importance on having a good selection of weight equipment.
40
● Opportunities
○ Lot With Route 66 Mural and Waldmire Bus
■ As was mentioned earlier, the Waldmire Bus and Route 66 mural are some
of the biggest attractions not just in Pontiac, but also along all of route 66.
By incorporating green space and benches, and making this place into
more of a park or courtyard, it would further increase traffic to this area
and make it a destination that people want to stay in and enjoy for an
extended period of time. This would make these destinations more
enjoyable for visitors and residents, allow for outdoor special events to be
hosted in the museum complex, and increase traffic for businesses in the
area.
○ High Speed Rail Stop in Pontiac
■ A new high speed rail is being built from Chicago to St. Louis with a stop
in Pontiac. This is a huge opportunity for the city of Pontiac because it
makes two massive markets (Chicago and St. Louis) realistic options for
Pontiac to target. Market research would need to be done as to what
exactly could convince travelers to get off the train in Pontiac and spend
money at local businesses. Pontiac could capitalize on its parks being a
nice retreat for people from Chicago and St. Louis to conveniently spend
some time away from city life, relaxing in parks by the Vermillion River.
Pontiac would greatly benefit from strategically placing attractions
between the train station and Humiston-Riverside park to attract new
visitors from these cities.
41
○ Lot with Old Kmart Building
■ The old Kmart site gives Pontiac leaders a large blank canvas to work
with. Their current plan for this site is to build the IHSA Basketball Hall
of Fame that commemorates high school basketball in Illinois, and to build
a Route 66 museum/garage that people can use to view and buy antique
cars to drive along Route 66. There is a large interest for Asian tourists to
buy antique cars and drive Route 66, and the IHSA Basketball Hall of
Fame would attract local tourists, as well as appeal to younger
demographics. These ideas seem to make sense given that basketball and
antique cars are a major part of Pontiac’s identity and there is an apparent
market for these museums.
■ These museums in and of themselves are major opportunities, but much
like the lot with the Route 66 mural and Waldmire Bus, this area currently
has no aesthetic appeal and it is seen as a run down parking lot/shopping
center. This area has major potential because it is located directly on
Route 66. Potential tourists who are driving Route 66 will pass this lot.
Creating a destination that catches peoples attention, will make it more
likely for these potential tourists to stop in Pontiac and spend money in the
area. Incorporating green space and photo ops will make this place a must
stop for Route 66 travelers.
○ Utilize Pontiac’s Unique History
■ Pontiac has a very interesting and unique history that gives it its own
unique identity. On our tour, city leaders gave expansive knowledge about
42
the history of Pontiac throughout different locations that encompassed
various time periods. It was apparent that with many of these areas there is
a strong sense of place attachment among Pontiac residents. Pontiac’s
unique history could be easily overlooked by tourists and
underappreciated by its residents. Having a tour that highlights Pontiac’s
history could be very beneficial for tourists and residents alike, as well as
make use of some old decommissioned structures like the Old Jail Site and
Community Pool in Chataqua Park that are costly to demolish.
○ Special Events
■ The city of Pontiac has a few special events such as the Rustic Auto Clubs
“Hang Loose- Let the Good Times Roll Car Show” in May, PARK
PALOOZA in July, and Threshman’s Bluegrass Festival in September (to
name a few). Analyzing Pontiac’s event calendar shows that they could
certainly improve their special events offerings however. A more
expansive selection of special events targeted at different demographics
throughout the year will benefit the local economy and build a greater
sense of community within Pontiac for residents. Adding more special
events will give tourists more incentives to visit Pontiac throughout the
year and make it a destination that people visit multiple times. All of
Pontiac’s major special events are held between April and September,
correlating with their tourism season. Hosting more special events from
October through March that are resident focused would benefit local
43
businesses during slow tourism seasons, and give the local residents more
entertainment opportunities.
○ Targeting Tourists During Different Seasons
■ Pontiac has done well attracting tourists in Illinois’ warmer months, with
April to September accounting for 77% of Pontiac visitors in 2011
according to data from Ellie Alexander, Pontiac’s Director of Tourism.
Opportunities do exist however to entice tourists to visit Pontiac in
seasons that aren’t currently the peak seasons.
■ The winter months (December- February) accounted for 4.7% of tourists
(2011 data). It may not be feasible to target international tourists to come
to Illinois during the winter, but opportunities could lie in targeting Illinois
residents with unique holiday offerings and special events during this
time.
■ The spring months (March- May) accounted for 20% of the year's tourism
with 10.8% of this tourism occurring in May (2011 data). It would be
effective to target residents and local tourists during this time with special
outdoor based events after being trapped inside for the grueling Winter
months.
■ The fall months (September- November) accounted for 29.5% of the
year’s tourism with the majority being September at 14.4% (2011 data).
This season could offer unique opportunities for international, and
domestic tourists as well as local tourists. The fall foliage in Pontiac’s
44
parks along the Vermillion River could be a great atmosphere for tourists
and creating unique Halloween based events could be very successful.
● Threats
○ Current Tourism Target Market is Aging
■ Using Route 66 as the primary emphasis of Pontiac’s tourism up until this
point has been a successful strategy for Pontiac; however, Route 66 does
not have the same value to younger generations as it does to older
generations. Route 66 is currently an effective tourism strategy for
Pontiac, and research would need to be conducted to analyze how much
longer it will be effective for. It is undeniable though that Pontiac needs to
diversify its tourism experiences to attract younger generations. This will
not only sustain Pontiac’s tourism for years to come, but also create more
revenue. Younger generations (millennials in particular) have the highest
purchasing power, and if Pontiac were to capitalize on this than they
would see increased tourism revenue.
○ Flooding
■ The Vermillion River that flows through Pontiac floods Humiston-
Riverside and Chautauqua Park on an annual basis. This unpredictable
flooding makes it hard to plan special events in these areas during flood
season, and makes it difficult to build new facilities in these flood areas
due to safety and maintenance concerns. Pontiac currently does not have
adequate water management systems in place to mitigate the effects of
flooding, and therefore find themselves at the river’s mercy year after
45
year. If Pontiac doesn’t work on improving their water management
systems, this will be an ongoing problem year after year. Consultation
from outside agencies who have expertise in flood management and
prevention could be of great value to Pontiac.
○ Competition With Nearby Cities/ Route 66 Destinations
■ Pontiac is an hour and forty-five minute drive from Chicago, forty-two
minutes from Bloomington/ Normal, an hour and forty minutes from
Springfield and an hour and twenty minutes from Champaign/Urbana; all
of which have greater resources at their disposal than Pontiac. It is
important that Pontiac city leaders frequently do an external analysis of
these cities. It is important that Pontiac has a focus strategy where they
carve out a niche in the Central Illinois tourism market that larger cities
like Chicago or Bloomington do not fulfill.
■ Pontiac is also competing with a multitude of cities and destinations along
Route 66 in several states who are targeting the exact same market. It is
important that Pontiac frequently does an external analysis of other Route
66 destinations, and continually provide unique offerings that differentiate
and give them an advantage over other Route 66 destinations.
○ State Budget Issues
■ The budget crisis within Illinois’ state government has dramatically
affected cities, business, and individuals throughout Illinois. Pontiac city
leaders mentioned during our discussion that they have been less
dependent on the state government for funding than most other cities in
46
Illinois, and therefore are not in as dire of a situation as other small towns
in Illinois. Even with this being the case, the uncertain financial future
makes this a time where implementing new projects must be carefully
considered. Pontiac has been successful by making itself into a tourist
destination, and in my opinion should continue to expand their tourism
and recreation offerings to continue to boost the local economy, it just
needs to be done wisely.
Public Participation and Data Collection Methods
Our proposal includes four different and unique projects that we believe will benefit the city of Pontiac in more ways than one, including bringing in more tourists (especially a younger demographic) as well as bring the community closer together. These are two things which we believe the leadership team of Pontiac needs to address. We believe that it is important to involve the community in the process of these proposed projects as it will affect them as well as future tourists. If the community understands the benefits that come along with these proposed projects, they will more likely be on board with the proposed projects.
There is more than one way to involve and collect data from the community including surveys, focus groups, public hearings, and interviews. We believe that the best methods to collect data from the community are surveys and focus groups. These two methods will bring both quantitative (statistical) and qualitative (descriptive) data that can help enhance the city of
Pontiac.
Survey data collection would allow the City of Pontiac to get a quick and easy understanding of how the community currently feels about its city, the amenities, and leisure that
47
it currently has and what the community feels it lacks. The city can also record demographics of participants, as well as how they feel about the four projects that are being proposed. The City of
Pontiac can also conduct these surveys with tourists that visit the town throughout the year.
Gathering information from both the community and the tourists who visit can help bring both groups closer. Survey methods are cheap to create and easy to conduct. We recommend that any survey should be designed online through Qualtrics. The survey should be distributed through postcards to every household in the City of Pontiac, via USPS. Also, there should be a stack of postcards that can be distributed to visitors at various museums, so visitors can also give their opinions. On each postcard should be a link that residents can go to when they take the survey, as well as a unique code. These unique codes will allow the City of Pontiac to determine if a resident or a visitor took the survey. In order to maximize participation, those willing to complete the survey will have the opportunity to enter into a drawing to win a $50 Amazon gift card.
Focus Groups are another great way to collect data from current community members.
Focus group participants should be chosen by a subsample of those who participated in the postcard survey. A question will be asked at the end of the survey if they would be willing to participate in an upcoming focus group, which includes asking the participant their name and email address, if they are chosen. Should they decide and agree to be apart of it, an incentive such as a $15 Amazon gift card will be rewarded for their time. Focus groups are small groups that are moderated by a “unknown” moderator who does not have any relation to the City of
Pontiac. Having an unknown moderator will allow for focus group participants to say what they want without the fear of city officials being offended. Focus groups should have a maximum of
48
six participants. The City of Pontiac should conduct various focus groups over a six month period to gather as much information as they can from both residents and visitors.
Focus group discussions/questions should include:
● What the City of Pontiac has done well with
● What they believe the City of Pontiac should improve on
● How they currently feel about Pontiac's current museum offerings
● How they currently feel about Pontiac’s recreation such as its parks, community
recreation center, and rec plex
● How they currently feel about Pontiac’s shopping that is available to them
After reviewing and discussing the needs assessment with Jarrod Scheunemann, of the
Office of Recreation and Park Resources at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the approximate cost of collecting data would be $8,500, which is based on a mail survey of 4,000 households. This estimate would include a complete census of every household in the City of
Pontiac.
Proposed survey begins on the next page
49
50
51
52
53
54
55