Washington in Tazewell County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Harry LaHood Park

Photographed by Matthew Stevens, May 11, 2024

1. Harry LaHood Park Marker

Inscription. The devastation from the tornado that struck Washington on November 17, 2013 was immense. But so was the response by so many that came to help our town.

We would like to recognize the following groups and individuals who helped financially to restore and rebuild Harry LaHood Park.

Rotary District 6460 • Our Savior Lutheran Church • Honeywell Turbo Technologies • Washington Rotary Club • LaHood Construction • Weston Family in Honor of H.G. Fuzz Weston • Rudy's Concrete Construction • Washington Lions Club • Connect Church • Taylor Lodge • MTCO Communications • Brian & Diana Williamson • Washington Illinois Area Foundation • Peoria Kiwanis Club • Peoria Rotary North • Schools Count Corporation • Washington Township • City of Washington • Grace Bible Church • Washington Chamber of Commerce • Kelch Turf Farms • Crossroads United Methodist Church • Don & Bobbi Volk • St. Mark's Lutheran Church

We would also like to recognize those who financially assisted through various other fundraising events held for the restoration of Harry LaHood Park.

In addition, we received

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the donation of time and effort from too many groups and individuals to list. In recognition of the countless hours that so many volunteered to clean up this park and our entire town after the tornado, Thank You!

Erected 2016 by Washington Park District and the Washington Park District Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Disasters • Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical date for this entry is November 17, 2013.

Location. 40° 42.687′ N, 89° 25.834′ W. Marker is in Washington, Illinois, in Tazewell County. It is on Kingsbury Road, on the right when traveling west. Marker is located inside LaHood Park on the southwest wall of public restroom building. It can be easily accessible from the multiple sidewalks that intersect the park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Washington IL 61571, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Illinois River Valley

and in Greater Peoria.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western

Photo of Marker on the Side of the Restrooms/Storm Shelter image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Matthew Stevens, May 11, 2024

2. Photo of Marker on the Side of the Restrooms/Storm Shelter

The H.G. "Fuzz" Weston is seen behind the storm shelter in the background.

Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Washington Park District (approx. one mile away); Washington Park Veterans Memorial (approx. one mile away); In Honor and Memory of U.S. Veterans (approx. one mile away); a different marker also named Washington Park Veterans Memorial (approx. one mile away); Glendale Cemetery Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.2 miles away); Civil War Memorial (approx. 1.4 miles away); Town & Country Gardeners Recognition (approx. 1.4 miles away); George Washington (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Washington.

Also see . . .
1. Washington Park District Website - Harry LaHood Park. Webpage from the Washington Park District that mainly details the history of the park.

Excerpt: "Harry LaHood Park is a 5 acre park that was donated by developers Jim Paul and Paul Gibb to the Park District in 2002 along with portions of the Washington
Photographed by Matthew Stevens, December 1, 2013

3. Cars Damaged by the Tornado in Harry LaHood Park
Harry LaHood Park was the site of all of the cars that were damaged by the tornado in Washington for evaluation and collection. The leakage of the different fluids from these car in addition to the debris from the tornado led to the entire park needing to be resodded which was completed in 2015. Photo provided from the Washington Historical Society on Washington Rewind (Tornado Scrapbook Page)
Recreation Trail that are located in and along Trail’s Edge subdivision. They asked that the park be named in memory of a friend and colleague, Harry LaHood."

(Submitted on July 31, 2026, by Matthew Stevens of Washington, Illinois.)

2. LaHood Park Needs a Restroom/Storm Shelter. Short YouTube video from the Washington Park District in 2015 urging the community to help fund the creation of the restroom/storm shelter where this marker sits today.

Excerpt of Video Description: "Due to the popularity of the water playground at Harry LaHood Park in Washington, IL the park is a destination point for the entire community. There have been many requests over the years for a restroom with flushing toilets and a space to change into and out of swimsuits. We also want to be able to provide a safe place for those park patrons to go in case of a thunder storm or another tornado."

(Submitted on July 31, 2026, by Matthew Stevens of Washington, Illinois.)

Photo of Harry LaHood Park from the Opposite Side of Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Matthew Stevens, May 11, 2024

4. Photo of Harry LaHood Park from the Opposite Side of Marker

Taken from the corner of Kingsbury Road and Grandyle Drive

Credits. This page was last revised on September 3, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 31, 2026, by Matthew Stevens of Washington, Illinois. This page has been viewed 21 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 31, 2026, by Matthew Stevens of Washington, Illinois. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.