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Why Methodist CON?

Our Location

A community full of surprises! Peoria's size (approximate metropolitan area population 350,000) is big enough to provide a wide range of cultural, recreational and educational opportunities. See Map

Arts

Peoria Symphony, Opera Illinois, 2 ballet companies, and several art galleries.
Lakeview Museum, affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution, is one of the only museums in the U.S. that features both the arts and the sciences.
Professional and community theater abound, from national touring company productions like "Phantom of the Opera" and "Miss Saigon," to Peoria Players, the oldest continuously running community theater in Illinois.

Sports

Professional teams include: Class A Peoria Chiefs baseball, Peoria Rivermen hockey and Peoria Rough Riders indoor football.

March Madness in Peoria - home to the annual Illinois High School Association Class A and AA boys' state basketball tournaments.

Golfers will appreciate the area's many outstanding public golf courses (and low greens fees), including the championship course at Weaver Ridge Golf Club.

Outdoor Activity

Summer brings out boaters and skiers on the Illinois River.

The Peoria Park District ranks first in Illinois and is one of the top public park systems in the nation based on its ratio of open-space holdings to population. It offers hiking and biking trails, tennis courts, swimming, water parks, ice skating, camping and picnic areas, recreation and wellness centers, and a wide range of classes and programs for all ages.

The Park District also operates the Glen Oak Zoo, Luthy Memorial Botanical Garden, and Grand View Drive - called the "world's most beautiful drive" by Theodore Roosevelt.

Education

Peoria offers a wide variety of public and private schools. Peoria Public Schools' special programs include:health, business and technology academies, and the prestigious International Baccalaureate program, designed to meet the highest standards required of any high school in the world.

Higher education includes:

Illinois Central College (2-year community college)
Bradley University (4-year private university & graduate school)
University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria
Illinois State University is an easy commute away

Housing

Peoria ranks in the top 5 nationwide for housing affordability (National Association of Home Builders' Housing Opportunity Index). We've got what you're looking for, from beautiful new subdivisions, to older neighborhoods with tree-lined streets and welcoming front porches, and converted loft apartments overlooking Peoria's eclectic riverfront.