Ventura Urges Residents to Attend Meeting on Future of Collins Street Prison Property (Joliet, IL) – State Sen. Rachel Ventura is calling on local residents to attend a public meeting next week to discuss the future of the long-unused Collins Street Prison property, a state-owned site that has raised environmental and public safety concerns among nearby residents.
The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hartman Recreation Center in Joliet. It is open to the public and the media.
The 168-acre site, once home to the historic Joliet Correctional Center—commonly known as the Collins Street Prison—has been the center of growing controversy. The State of Illinois owns the land, but it has been leased to the City of Joliet since 2017 under an intergovernmental agreement. That lease has now expired and is being renegotiated with the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS), prompting renewed questions over who should control the site and how it should be managed.
Residents who live around the property say they have witnessed illegal dumping, trespassing, vandalism, arson and unpermitted recreational use over the years. Some have also raised environmental concerns about potential land misuse and a lack of oversight.
“I encourage all to attend and voice their concerns and thoughts about the property,” Ventura said. She is backing Senate Bill 1698, legislation that would transfer the land from the state to the Forest Preserve District of Will County for public use and long-term environmental protection.
Supporters of the bill say forest preserve oversight would ensure transparency and responsible land use. But not everyone agrees. Some community members argue that Joliet should retain authority over the site under a revised lease—one that includes stronger accountability measures and public access protections.
The Collins Street Prison, made famous in films and television—including The Blues Brothers—was decommissioned in 2002 due to state budget cuts. Remaining prisoners were transferred to Stateville Correctional Center, which has since also closed.
Under the original 2017 agreement, Joliet was responsible for maintaining the prison grounds and preventing further deterioration. But critics say oversight has been inconsistent. The city’s new leadership, under Mayor Terry D’Arcy, has acknowledged past communication issues and has begun working with state lawmakers to address lingering concerns.
Tuesday’s meeting is expected to include updates on lease negotiations, discussion of SB1698 and input from residents on the future use of the site.
“This land has sat neglected for too long,” Ventura said. “We need a transparent path forward that protects taxpayers, preserves the environment and ensures public safety.”
For more information, residents are encouraged to attend the meeting or contact their local representatives.
Ventura Urges Residents to Attend Meeting on Future of Collins Street Prison Property
