Oliver Thomas Park

Over the years, people in the community have asked why a park located at 200 Carolina Street in Washington was named for Oliver Thomas.  Obviously, many no longer have any idea who he was or how the park came to be, but it is an important part of the history of this area of Washington, Illinois.

The story begins in the fall of 1949 when two lives were lost in an explosion at the Hiram Walker Distillery in Peoria, Illinois. One of those men was a local resident, 33-year-old Oliver Thomas, a Boy Scout leader, husband, and father.

Then, on May 27-28, 1950, Oliver Thomas Park began its existence with a dedication ceremony sponsored by the Sundoer Civic Club, where Mr. Thomas had served as a Vice President. Oliver’s wife and his son, John Oliver Thomas, were in attendance.  In 1958 the Northern Tazewell Recreation Association (N.T.R.A.) was established to maintain this park.   

Since its dedication, Oliver Thomas Park (OT) has been a place where countless games of baseball, softball, and soccer have been played by children ages 4-18. Boys, girls, and even adults have spent time on the fields learning the skills of the sport they have decided to play or coach. Over the years, the N.T.R.A. has been an organization that has served many of the children in the community of Sunnyland. Although not limited to children in Sunnyland, most of its team members consist of those living nearby. It is a 501c3 nonprofit organization whose board members are volunteers. This organization joins with other local recreation associations for league playing of baseball and softball (East Peoria, Washington, Metamora, etc.). It is supported by donations from the community, team fundraisers, concession sales, participation fees, and monetary gifts in memory of local citizens who volunteered or loved the benefits that the N.T.R.A. provides for the community.

This story began with a park that started as a dedicated piece of land to honor a local Boy Scout leader, but the land and the N.T.R.A. have gone on to become a very important part of the Washington (Sunnyland) community. Over the years, countless obituaries have recounted local citizens’ dedication and support of OT and N.T.R.A. Inc.. From volunteers who sit on the board of directors to local citizens who step up and volunteer to coach, help with the upkeep of the park, and donate equipment to local businesses that continue to sponsor, folks strive to keep this organization and land prime for the children who live here. Summertime is full of the sound of folks cheering on their team. Oliver Thomas Park and the N.T.R.A. remain a very important part of Sunnyland to its kids and volunteers and will hopefully remain so.

Sources: Woodford County Journal (Eureka, IL) 01 Jun 1950

N.T.R.A. Inc. website https://www.ntrainc.org/