Rock Island Today

State Representative Travis Weaver announced the completion of a public-private partnership project in a December 3 Facebook post. The initiative involved the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), Kewanee Life Skills Re-Entry Center (IDOC), Rotary Community Corps, and the Rotary Club of Galva.

"Yesterday, I had the honor of attending an event to mark the completion of the Bishop Hill Fence Project, a public-private partnership between several community organizations, IDOC, and the IDNR," said Weaver, according to Facebook. "We had a ribbon-cutting to officially mark the occasion, and we were able to recognize those who made this project possible. For some background, the Bishop Hill Fence Project involved a public-private partnership between the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), Kewanee Life Skills Re-Entry Center (IDOC), Rotary Community Corps, and the Rotary Club of Galva. This service project involved over 50 inmates who created materials and fencing to be put up around the park in the center of the Village."

According to Weaver's Facebook post, he shared a report from WQAD8 highlighting the ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new fence at the Bishop Hill State Historic Site. The event took place at the Colony School in the village on December 2. WQAD8 reported that more than 50 inmates participated in creating materials and installing fencing around the park.

Screenshot of State Representative Travis Weaver's Dec. 3 Facebook post | State Representative Travis Weaver's Facebook page

A news release on Weaver’s website detailed that the ribbon-cutting event began at 12:30 p.m., with the ceremony scheduled for 1 p.m. The Bishop Hill Old Settlers’ Association hosted a reception event for the park fence last week. Joella Krause, a Bishop Hill Preservation Advocate and Original Colonist Descendant, said, "This project was personal to several of us as descendants. Originally, there was a ravine in the Park where our ancestors lived, died, and were born the first winter in Bishop Hill. The Park was always a place to gather, socialize, and remember the founding day. This collaborative project has restored the fence back to a respectable beauty."

The Kewanee Voice reported that the wooden fence is a replica of an older structure that had encircled Bishop Hill Village Park for decades. It consists of 101 panels and 4,000 pickets, with reconstruction completed in less than four months.

Weaver represents Illinois' 93rd District and resides in Edwards near his family farm in Peoria. He has experience working in finance and strategy roles at Caterpillar while also investing in local startup businesses.