Local resident’s donation expands downtown Freeport park

FREEPORT, Ill. (WTVO) — A new pocket park in downtown Freeport is set to double in size thanks to a land donation by a local resident.

The expansion comes just three months after the city broke ground on the park, which was initially funded by a $50,000 grant.

“When you think about, you know, our goal is to increase the number of people who are living in downtown. Everyone wants a green space, whether it’s just for themselves to enjoy, or for with their family or their pets. So this is an opportunity to have a nice urban space, you can think of it as a shared living room, if you will,” said Andrea Winter, executive director of the Greater Freeport Partnership.

The donated land will expand the park to 120 feet long and 83 feet wide. It is located on West Stephenson Street, right across from the courthouse. Karcher Park is named after John H. Karcher and Louis Karcher, who were among the first to purchase land for development in downtown Freeport.

The land was donated by Marianne Garvens, who said she hoped the park would spur civic improvement and beautification.

“I’ve been investing in Freeport for decades because I see the vital importance of building a community that nurtures and helps one another. My vision for the Karcher Block building was to support the business dreams of others by providing affordable booth space while creating a place where people could enjoy themselves and shop downtown. The plans for a downtown pocket park are synergistic to the goals of the building and I look forward to what it will bring to the lot,” said Garvens.

The pocket park’s construction is set to continue into 2026, contrary to earlier expectations of a spring opening.

“We are humbled by the collaboration and possibility Ms. Garvens has offered in her support of the Karcher Block Pocket Park. Her commitment to downtown and our community is a testament to what is possible when people unite in a shared goal,” said City of Freeport Mayor Jodi Miller.

With the expansion, the park aims to serve as a welcoming green space for the community, enhancing the downtown area’s appeal.

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.