The Conversation Begins

Field Notes | Letter No. 001

July 2026

Thank you for joining the conversation.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about the Union Hill Greenway Initiative and for adding your name to the Statement of Community Support.

Over the past several months, I've had the privilege of speaking with neighbors, property owners, preservation advocates, and community members who care deeply about the future of Union Hill. While perspectives naturally differ, one thing has become increasingly clear: this place matters to people.

That simple realization is both encouraging and important.

The Union Hill Greenway Initiative was never intended to present a finished plan or predetermined outcome. Instead, it begins with a simple question:

What if Union Hill could become something more?

Not simply a roadway to travel through, but a place that invites people to slow down, connect with the surrounding neighborhood, and experience one of Peoria's most distinctive historic settings in a new way.

Your participation affirms that this question is worth exploring.

In the months ahead, BlackHouse Seven will continue documenting the history of Union Hill, listening to community perspectives, meeting with neighborhood stakeholders, and sharing what we learn along the way. Some of those conversations will affirm the ideas we've already explored. Others may challenge them. Both are valuable.

Meaningful public places are rarely created by a single idea or a single organization. They emerge through careful observation, respectful dialogue, and the willingness of a community to imagine what is possible together.

Thank you for becoming part of that process.

As the initiative evolves, BlackHouse Seven will continue sharing thoughtful updates, research, and opportunities to participate. My hope is that these letters become an ongoing record of the conversations, discoveries, and ideas that shape this journey - not only for Union Hill, but for future community initiatives as well.

Thank you for imagining what might be possible.

— Reagan

concept sketch | Union Hill Greenway Initiative

Field Notes is an ongoing publication from BlackHouse Seven exploring preservation, placemaking, and the evolving relationship between people and place.