Things that are better about Kankakee, than when I grew up there in the 50s, and 60s. 1. The train depot in the picture. That fountain is beautiful, and there is an actual train museum there now. East Avenue was not a place where you would want to actually hang out for long. It was pretty ratty, and had a bunch of derelicts living at the Alamo Hotel, which also was a cat house. 2. The Library. It is now four full floors of books, meeting rooms, computer terminals, along with programs we never even dreamed of. 3. The Majestic Theater. It was boarded up when I was a kid 4. The Kankakee Symphony. Didnt exist when I was a kid. 5. Olivet. It has gone from a small start up college, to a real university, and enriches the community with programs, not to mention broadens the regions education. 6. Kankakee Community College. It didnt exist. Kids had to go to Joliet for Junior College. 7. The food is better. There are actual CHEFS in town, now 8. The farmers market. We didnt have anything like that growing up. It is not only fresh produce, but a place people come together as a community 9. The police force. Know how corrupt it was when I was a kid? It was outrageous. Ask Jim Ridings about that. In fact, Politics in general in Kankakee is much cleaner than it was when I was a kid. That doesnt mean it is not without its problems, but it is a vast difference than the Boss days of the machine. 10 Merchant Street Music Fest. And the Barbecue along the river. We didnt, and couldnt have had anything like that. 11 The water slide and skating rink out by KCC. That looks fun. Im going to head there this summer some weekend. 12. The bike race around Cobb Park 13 More little league, soccer, and sports for the kids The list goes on, and on. Kankakee has a lot going for it, and it is all of you who have improved the town, and you are doing a great job. Keep it up..the rest will come.. Dont be negative on the town
Posted on: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 01:41:12 +0000