What might surprise outsiders about outdoor recreation in Greater Peoria, Illinois, is actually inside knowledge for Mark Monge and Nate Heinold. Aside from their college years, they’ve always lived and played throughout the area. “Peoria has the largest and oldest park district in Illinois, which doesn’t include the neighboring communities,” Monge says. He’s a real estate agent, an avid mountain biker and a blogger for Peoria Outdoor Adventure.