JJ Leggions and Matthew Wilson begin skateboarding lessons at Fairview Park in Decatur.
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Scott Mullinix, right, gives students JJ Leggions and Matthew Wilson their first lessons in skateboarding.
JJ Leggions pushes the skateboard up a ramp in the Fairview Park skateboard park.
Scott Mullinix lines up free skateboards along the fence of the skateboard park in Fairview Park.
13 photos of Decatur's Joyland Amusement Park
View from Lake Shore Drive
1963: Preparations being made on Nelson Park's Joyland for opening has come to a halt during the drizzle. The amusement area which is to feature 10 to 12 rides for children, has been under fire by residents because of its appearance and possible increases in traffic congestion. This is how it appears Lake Shore Drive.
Super slide
1970: There is fun for all on the super slide at Joyland.
Resident's eye view
1963: Residents of Lake Shore Drive looking east have this view of an amusement park being developed in Nelson Park under a lease from the Park District to Kenneth Phillips, of Bloomington. A number of rides, including a roller coaster and a miniature train, are being installed and a miniature golf course will be built.
Miniature golf course
1968: A miniature golf course in Joyland is a favorite spot of many Decatur residents on summer nights.
Joyland train
1963: Putting the finishing touches on the freshly-painted Wabash miniature train is Chester Bradley, right. The train will run along the Joyland amusement area in Nelson Park. Owen Lehman, paint shop inspector, loos over the painting job which was done in the Wabash shop.
Giant Slide
1975: The giant slide remains standing in Joyland amid the debris left after the other equipment was removed.
Dismantling Joyland
1975: Dismantling Joyland, Decatur's defunct amusement park, goes on as workers like Jerry Carber of Evansville, Ind., cart away rides sold recently at auction. Carber works for Roth Amusements, which operates Mattoon Beach on Lake Mattoon.
Derailed train car
1969: This car of the miniature train at Joyland in Nelson Park lies on its side where it came to rest after being knocked from the tracks. Three young persons were injured.
Controversy
1963: Youngsters ride, impervious of controversy surrounding the location of Joyland set up on Lake Shore Drive.
Blue Bird
1969: Never fear, fans of the Blue Bird. Even if the Norfolk & Western Railway Co. is successful in discontinuing its Blue Bird run to Chicago, Nelson Park's Joyland ride will keep the memory alive.
Awaiting sale of equipment
1975: Joyland Amusement Park awaits the sale of its equipment.
Auction block
1975: Joyland will go on the auction block. The Decatur Park board took an official hands off policy in the matter, despite Joyland's consistent profit for the district. Operators of the amusement park, who pay the district an annual concession fee, are forced to sell after defaulting on a loan due to a court decision.
Airview
1963: Among projects nearing completion in the city is this public-private joint venture--the new children's amusement park. The park, named Joyland, is being built by Kenneth Phillips of Bloomington on land leased from the Park District for 10 years. Phillips has been aiming for a May 30 opening. Some residents of the area have prepared a petition seeking to stop Joyland from operating.
Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983. Follow her on Twitter: @donnettebHR
Donnette Beckett
"Together Decatur" Columnist and Food/Drink Reporter
