Freedom Parkway Extension Timeline

The extension of Freedom Parkway to Cummings Lane has been in the minds of city developers since the opening of Wal-Mart and the development of the area in 2005.  In late 2008, one of the proposals Washington submitted to the Peoria Economic Development Council for approval for funding from the federal stimulus package set forth by President Barack Obama was the extension of Freedom Parkway to Cummings Lane.  The other proposal was the expansion of a wastewater treatment plant.  City Administrator Bob Morris said at the time, "Freedom Parkway and the wastewater treatment plant are two of the city's highest priority projects, and they're ready to go.  The term being used these days is 'shovel ready.'"  The project would have a total cost of around $2.06 million.  The project was subsequently not approved for funding.

Nothing was heard of the project again until three years later, in 2012, when it was reported that the city was still negotiating to purchase right-of-way easements along the corridor.  The total cost of the road has ballooned to $3 million, and no funding is available to complete the project.

In March 2013, the sanitary sewer line was extended to the area, and the dirt above it compacted to road-grade standards.  Mayor Gary Manier said, "This is the #1 area for retail growth, so it's important that we get that road punched through there."

The November 17, 2013, tornado ripped the town in half and put projects like Freedom Parkway on hold for at least a year.

That year turned into ten.  On July 5, 2023, the construction of the Freedom Parkway extension began after finally securing some long-sought-after outside funding to help pay for the project.  The total cost of the road was now over $6 million.  The road was opened to traffic on October 15, 2024.

Future plans include a drop-down road to connect with Lakeshore Drive.