One of the things that strikes me about the late Ray Peterson is his loyalty to Macomb. Though a Nebraska native, he moved here to attend Western Illinois University and major in park and recreation. After graduating from WIU, Peterson took a job with the Macomb Park District and stayed there for more than 40 years. He eventually became park director and served until his retirement in 2016.
I believe that the key element in the legacy of Park Director Ray Peterson is Veterans Park. Peterson fought to get a state grant to purchase that 80 acres. He received public criticism that the district could not afford to develop it, but he worked hard to disprove his critics. Veterans Park is now the district’s showcase. Think of how many events are held each year at Veterans Park.
Some may say that Peterson’s 10 years of retirement took him into a life of obscurity. But I think of Veterans Park and the man who created it, Ray Peterson.
