First Phase of Destination O’Fallon Approved by O’Fallon City Council
O’Fallon, Illinois – Mayor Gary L. Graham is pleased to announce that on Monday, November 21, 2016, the O’Fallon City Council voted to approve the first phase of Destination O’Fallon, which includes a number of projects and community-wide investments that will continue to make O’Fallon a national destination for businesses, families, and visitors. Two of the largest projects will include a state-of-the-art multi-sports complex in the O’Fallon Family Sports Park and a new multi-purpose community plaza in the heart of the historic O’Fallon Downtown.
“Destination O’Fallon builds on the investment that is being made in our city by private businesses such as the St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Visionary Wealth Advisors, Reliance Bank, Gander Mountain, McKendree Metro Rec Plex, Academy Sports, and many others over the last three years,” said Mayor Graham. “In 2017, O’Fallon is poised to have an influx of over 250,000 visitors as the new hospital opens and more businesses begin construction.”
“Last week an ownership group from Missouri announced plans to bring a Major League Soccer (MLS) team and stadium to St. Louis,” stated Mayor Graham. “The overwhelming support and approval of the multi-sports complex in the O’Fallon Family Sports Park by the City Council is cementing O’Fallon’s leadership in the region as a premier sports destination.”
The next phase of Destination O’Fallon will be the design and construction of the projects listed in Destination O’Fallon. O’Fallon residents and businesses will provide input to the O’Fallon City Council on the design of the projects and policies.
“Destination O’Fallon is a new economic development initiative that is an investment in the O’Fallon Community,” said Mayor Graham. “It will create an iconic community plaza in Downtown O’Fallon, benefit our businesses, spur economic growth, support the youth and families of our community and connect our downtown with the new development in the Green Mount Business and Medical Corridor and the Family Sports Park in a truly positive and innovative way.”
Destination O’Fallon will also transform an underutilized parking lot at the corner of First Street and Vine Street into a beautiful, multi-purpose gathering space and overflow parking area. It will create an iconic plaza in the heart of the historic O’Fallon Downtown that can host farmers’ markets, parades, seasonal festivals, and much more.
Destination O’Fallon will result in a multi-sports complex in the O’Fallon Family Sports Park that will become a magnet for soccer and other youth sports programs and will provide an added boost to the local economy. The complex will include all-weather fields that will attract regional and national tournaments.
Destination O’Fallon will make the O’Fallon community a national destination for families, businesses and visitors. An increase in the number of visitors and businesses will provide a boost to the O’Fallon economy. O’Fallon will become an even more desirable community in which to live, which in turn will help to increase O’Fallon homeowners’ property values.
A 4% increase in the O’Fallon Hotel/Motel Tax will help fund Destination O'Fallon. Currently, O’Fallon has the lowest hotel/motel tax in the region at just 5%. An increase in O’Fallon’s Hotel/Motel Tax is being used so that out of town visitors, not O’Fallon residents, will pay for the community investments. O’Fallon families and homeowners will experience the benefits of additional amenities and increased home values, without having to pay for it through increased sales or property taxes.
Residents can visit www.destinationofallon.org to learn more about the projects and the benefits to the O’Fallon Community, as well as frequently asked questions.
