City of Peru, Illinois Logo

2600 Plank Road
Peru, IL 61354

Veterans Memorial Park and Schweickert Stadium is home to the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp Baseball!

Veterans Park also offers "Wiggley Field" dog park, 2 baseball fields, 1 softball field, soccer field, a playground, and 2 shelters.

PARKING:

The main parking lot is a striped concrete lot located up the drive and to the east of the ball fields. The west side of this lot has 11 handicapped parking spots with another 74 unreserved spots.  A smaller paved and striped parking lot is located to the southeast and can accommodate approximately 34 vehicles.  Additional unstriped parking is on the 3 acres of leveled screenings north of the existing paved lots which should accommodate approximately 240 additional vehicles.

AMENITIES:

Restrooms are located on the east side of the concession stand between the Big League and Little League fields.  An additional 8 port-a-pottys will be located to the south on the west side of the big league field for Pistol Shrimp home games.  There are also 2 port-a-pottys located on the east side of the dog park.

There are two park shelters. One is located northwest of the concession stand, and the other to the west between the big league and softball field. No reservations are taken for these shelters.

Food truck hookups are located to the west of the concession stand.  There are 2 30-amp and 2 50-amp hook-ups.

The playground is to the west of the little league field, north of the food truck hook-ups.

The dog park, Wiggley Field, is located south off the southwest corner of the parking lot.

A water fountain is located on the north side of the concession stand.

Free Wi-Fi is offered in the Parks.  At this time, it will only be on for games, with full-time Wi-Fi being offered in the near future.

No smoking is allowed in the park.

The press box is located on the northwest corner of the Big League Field.

SPECTATOR SEATING:

Visitors to the park are welcome to bring their own portable seating.

Big League Field

There are 2 bleacher stands with a 250 person limit on the west side, and 2 smaller bleachers on the north side that will hold about 30 each.  

Little League Field aka Armory Field

Approximately 4 smaller bleacher stands

Softball Field aka Veteran's West or Varsity field

Approximately 4 smaller bleacher stands

DIRECTIONS:

From Interstate 80:

From Interstate 80 take Exit 73 for Plank Rd. Head south on Plank Rd approximately 1-3/4 miles.  The entrance to Veterans' Park will be on the west side of the road (on your right). 

From Route 6:

From Route 6 aka 4th St, turn north onto Peoria St.  Continue north on Peoria St through the Shooting Park Rd intersection and through the roundabout, taking the third exit for Plank Rd.  Continue north approximately 900 ft on Plank Rd.  The entrance to Veteran's Memorial Park will be on the west side of the road (on your left).

From IL-251:

From IL-251, go to the IL-251 and Shooting Park Rd intersection. Take Shooting Park Rd west to the Peoria St intersection.  Turn north and continue on Peoria St through the roundabout, taking the third exit for Plank Rd.  Continue north approximately 900 ft on Plank Rd.  The entrance to Veteran's Memorial Park will be on the west side of the road (on your left).

 

 

PISTOL SHRIMP BASEBALL

PISTOL SHRIMP BASEBALL

Veteran's Memorial Park and Schweickert Stadium is home to the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp, an amateur collegiate wood-bat  summer league baseball team!  Learn more about the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp on their website: http://www.pistolshrimpbaseball.com/

General admission for the 2024 season is FREE compliments of the Pistol Shrimp and City of Peru.

During Home games, Veteran's Park will be closed to outside food and beverage.  

The concession stand will be open and selling drinks such as water, soda, and sports drinks as well as snacks such as candy, popcorn, pretzels, and nachos.  There will be a food vendor and beer garden as well.   

There will be a rotating cast of food vendors for the games. The beer garden serves domestics, a selection from Tangled Roots Brewing Company, as well as hard seltzer and tea and a specialty cocktail or mixed drink.  The north end of that shelter will be selling Pistol Shrimp merchandise such as hats, jerseys, t-shirts, and hoodies.  Kid's sizes too! 

Programs are available for a $2  and are 32-pages of history, trivia, and coupons, with detailed excerpts on the players.   Each program is numbered, and purchasers have a chance to win a prize if your program number is called. 

To see a list of theme nights, where attendees are encouraged to dress-up, click here! 

If you would like to volunteer, host a player or intern, become a sponsor or are interested in being a food vendor, please email [email protected].