Oregon moves forward with riverfront revitalization, acquiring old foundry

OREGON, Ill. (WTVO) — The city of Oregon has approved the purchase of the historic Paragon Foundry along the Rock River as part of its long-term plan to expand the river district.

The Paragon Foundry, constructed in the early 1900s and inactive for over 50 years, will be demolished to make way for a mixed-use development featuring retail and housing. This initiative is a significant step in the city’s decade-long effort to enhance the riverfront for economic and community benefits.

“Being a river community is so important for eco tourism and just the beauty of our community,” said city administrator Darin DeHaan. “So the thought was like many river communities, how do we preserve that?”

“The family were great partners through this. They see the vision of this riverfront redevelopment,” DeHaan added.

Mayor Ken Williams expressed community support, saying, “This has been great for the community. And the response from our citizens has been fantastic. They really love what we’re doing.”

The city of Oregon’s efforts to revitalize the Rock River area have been ongoing for nearly a decade, with the aim of boosting eco-tourism and preserving the natural beauty of the riverfront.

Recent developments along the river include businesses like the Hunt Club and River’s Edge Experience, which have contributed to the area’s growing appeal.

While the full plans for the site are still in development, the city is optimistic about the potential for increased activity and enjoyment along the riverfront.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WTVO. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WTVO staff before being published.