Three sisters, Sadie, Lillian, and Goldie Cohen, expressed a wish that the 400-acres of farmland located adjacent to the city of Chillicothe, IL be dedicated as park land and a model farm for educational, recreational, and conservational purposes.  While the Cohen sisters lived just off Moss Avenue in Peoria, they loved their family farm.  Their vision was for the property to remain agriculturally related.   

Lillian Cohen, the last surviving sister, died June 24, 1988, leaving the majority of the estate’s assets to the SLG Cohen Foundation, Inc. – an Illinois not-for-profit corporation.  The foundation is governed by a board of directors.  The Three Sisters Park Advisory Board offers advisement regarding site development, possible uses and programming.  

The master plan envisions the creation of a living history farm, a central activity building, large festival areas, a welcome center, restaurant, agricultural equipment museum activity area, and outdoor natural amphitheater.  

During the World War I era, significant changes took place on American family farms.  Early motorized implements worked alongside draft horses and new crops were proliferating, thus making this point in history particularly conducive to a wide array of programs.  The focal point of the park is the turn-of-the-century living history farm which will be used to immerse visitors in the historical significance of this period of American agriculture.