Recreation | WGLT

Normal's First Recreational Cannabis Dispensary Opens For Business

By Charlie Schlenker • May 11, 2020

bags of edible marijuana in chocolate — Charlie Schlenker / WGLT

A half-dozen people lined up to buy McLean County's first recreational cannabis at the first opportunity Monday morning.

Axe-Throwing Business Looks To Open In Bloomington

By Ryan Denham • Sep 18, 2019

Bloomington-Normal has all sorts of recreation options that improve our quality of life.

Soon we may add axe-throwing to the list.

Normal Township Senior Recreation Center Fundraises To Renovate Space

By Mary Cullen • Aug 13, 2018

After opening in 2016, Normal Township’s Activity and Recreation Center is raising money to renovate an extra 3,000 square feet of space.

Normal Township Supervisor Race Focuses On Public Assistance

By Charlie Schlenker • Mar 23, 2017

Sarah Grammer, left, and Cheryl Gaines — Charlie Schlenker / WGLT

The two candidates for Normal Township supervisor have opposing views on making the public assistance program more efficient.

Township duties are to determine the value of property for taxation, to take care of roads not maintained by other government entities, and to distribute welfare to the local poor who are not eligible for other public aid.

Soccer Field Replacement Could Be Multi-Sport Complex

By Colleen Reynolds • Feb 8, 2017

A new issue could be emerging in the primary election for the city of Bloomington and Town of Normal as the pressure mounts to find a replacement for soccer fields along Ireland Grove Road which host youth soccer leagues and Bloomington High School students.

Bloomington's Annual 'Snowbird Open' Switching Venues

By Willis Kern • Dec 30, 2015

For the first time in decades, Bloomington's annual Snowbird Open golf event will be played at Prairie Vista instead of Highland Park on New Year's Day. The city's golf operations manager, Nancy Nelson, says ironically, it was the weather that caused the "weather-defying" event to shift venues.

"It was the ice storm that hit us and knocked down a bunch of trees. You can't really make your way around Highland Park right now and we won't have it cleaned up in time."

Rebuilding A Carousel On Old Route 66

By Judith Valente • Sep 16, 2015

The stone house with the wrap-around porch and large turret is a fixture off Old Route 66 in Lexington. Locals know it as "The Castle." It's the home of longtime residents Chuck Wright (pictured) and his wife, Mary. The Wrights have spent 30 years restoring the residence. Now they are working to turn their property into a carnival-like venue for special events, complete with a restored carousel. In another of our occasional series on Unknown Illinois, GLT's Judy Valente takes you to the play land the Wrights are trying to create in the heart of Lexington.