Minonk is still a great little town that needs to adapt to the realities of modern day living. Minonk will never have 5 grocery stores again or 5 automobile dealers. Minonk's economic future is dependent on getting new businesses into the Carolyn Development at the I-39 interchange. But Minonk still has a great residential neighborhood , great parks, a good school system and is fortunate to be located on an Interstate access road.
People will continue to live in a community with nice homes, a low crime rate, low cost of living, low pollution and a reasonable commute to a workplace. Living in a small community gives you a sense of belonging, a sense of being part of something in which you can make a difference.
Small communities like Minonk will survive as bedroom communities for commuters who work out of town and for retirees. People from Minonk can commute to Bloomington, Peoria, Pontiac and LaSalle-Peru in less time than the average commute for someone in the suburbs of Chicago.
Even in communities like Bloomington, there is no downtown shopping anymore. Everyone goes shopping at the malls. People who live on the west side of Bloomington may spend almost as much time to get to work or to go shopping on the east side of Bloomington as someone from Minonk.
Life has changed for all communities, not just small communities. What will sustain small communities like Minonk in the future is the quality of its residents. Residents who take pride in their home and their community and become active in community projects is what makes or breaks the community. Small communities that work together to solve problems will survive with or without a grocery store.
As a member of the "Luckiest Generation" I give my best wishes to the next generation so small communities will thrive.