MACOMB — Dr. Jeremy Robinett, an Assistant Professor at Western Illinois University, led a presentation on how the city of Macomb could improve its infrastructure and marketing to appeal to more visitors, as well as improving full-time citizens’ lives.
Robinett, who works in the department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration, cited data from a series of focus groups that began collecting data in Spring 2019 from communities in and surrounding Macomb. Some common wants from the focus groups included a more bike-accessible town – namely one that invited those traveling by train to leave the train station and explore the city with their bikes. Something highly requested from the teenagers surveyed was a new water feature, akin to a new public pool or water park.
To give guests at Thursday evening’s presentation an idea of what the focus group was asked, Robinett asked audience-members to answer a few questions on a note card. These questions were 1) what is something you always do when you have visitors, 2) what is a strength of the Western Illinois region, 3) what is something this region lacks, and 4) how would you describe your town to others?
As for what the region already had going for it, Robinett said that the focus group felt that Macomb had potential in its history, such as President Abraham Lincoln’s historical visit and Elizabeth Magie, inventor of the Landlord’s Game that would eventually become Monopoly. Even the tongue-in-cheek “Forgottonia” movement was worth emphasizing, Robinett’s data showed – saying that it paralleled the focus group’s comments that Macomb is something of a hidden gem. Robinett’s conclusions added that the Macomb area was also rich in natural activities, such as hunting, fishing, hiking, and more at parks and nature centers like Spring Lake.
Athletics were highlighted, be they youth, club, or college sports. Festivals, while a strength in their abundance and variety, also suffer from a perceived density, Robinett said. He said many in the focus group understood that Summer and Holiday events took place in their community, but that they either failed to compete with areas like Peoria, or there were too many events happening in such a short window of time. Another vague suggestion called for more photogenic spots, that encouraged people to stop and get out of their cars for a photo or selfie.
Overall, Robinett said one common complaint was that the town doesn’t often make the sale for passers-by. It fails to make a strong impression or give travelers a reason to pull over and explore.
To get themselves thinking of suggestions, the audience first thought about an upcoming mega-reunion, in which more than 2,000 WIU alumni plan to visit from September 25-27. Catering to the nostalgia of graduates from decades passed, the audience suggested things like peel-away maps of the new downtown, with photos depicting what used to occupy certain storefronts.
The campus of Western came into play as well. Not unlike many universities, one audience member said that Western was short on places to park without a parking pass. For visitors looking to check out the Union, or tour the campus, they said this was probably off-putting. Robinett wrote the suggestion down, agreeing that 30-minute free parking spaces could boost visitors while keeping them from interrupting someone’s normal work day.
Figures like the Macomb Mayor Mike Inman, Downtown Development Director Kristin Terry, Museum Director Sue Scott, and more were present to take notes, share their latest developments, and offer suggestions of their own.
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