Rockford Park District’s Post

A few weeks ago, we made a significant announcement: our Buddy Baseball teams will soon have a permanent and inclusive ‘homebase’ at Darryl F. Lindberg Park! Since its inception in 2009, our Buddy Baseball program has used various fields around the community but has never had a dedicated, properly modified space—until now! Check out the video to learn more about this exciting project. To support this meaningful community project, visit https://lnkd.in/g7YTJY5W

⏳ Our community survey is nearing its end, and we're excited to hear your thoughts on shaping the next five-year focus for our parks and facilities! This is your chance to make sure your voice is heard—take a moment to complete our survey at https://lnkd.in/g_9Ri-6X From our previous survey, we learned that there was an increasing value in the investment of our neighborhood parks. As a result, we've focused on upgrading many of our parks over the past five years, ensuring they are safe, well-maintained, and heavily utilized. These vital gathering spaces play a key role in the development of our youth and overall community well-being. #YourParksYourFocus #BuildingBetterParks #TogetherWeGrow #RPD

We are currently hiring for a Park Police Officer. Come be a key part in our community by protecting our parks and facilities and engaging with our community! 🚨 tinyurl.com/mr2pre5f We are accepting applications until 9/23!

We would like to thank the Rockford IceHogs for their dedication and commitment to growing participation in the sport of hockey here in Rockford. Their generous grants have helped us break down barriers to entry by covering costs and making it possible for everyone to participate in hockey, even without prior skating experience. In the first year of our Junior StreetHogs program, 7,000 kids got to enjoy street hockey, and 26 participants with disability-related needs, including both children and adults, took part in our Buddy Hockey program. We’re excited for year two and the continued impact it will have on our community!

No raining on our parade! 🌧️🎉 Happy #815Day! We’re so proud to have the everyday opportunity to serve our community with a smile. Rockford and our surrounding communities are amazing places to live, work, thrive, and enjoy life. There is so much to celebrate in the 8️⃣🔩5️⃣! #815Day #ScrewCity #ForestCity #Rockford #RPD #CommunityFirst

Our previous community survey showed a strong need for additional support for our next generation, from providing first job experiences for teens to expanding programs for at-risk youth, and buddy sports teams in our Therapeutic Recreation department. Thanks to your support, we've achieved some great milestones: launching a girls flag football league, creating a pathway for local referees to represent the IHSA, and introducing hockey to kids who might not have had the chance to play before. 👉 Help us shape our next five-year focus by taking our community survey: https://lnkd.in/g_9Ri-6X #YourParksYourFocus #BuildingBetterParks #TogetherWeGrow #RPD

Tonight, the Rockford Park District Board of Commissioners and local officials honored 55 athletes and coaches from the Rockford F.I.R.E Track & Field team and the Rockford Bears 15U Flag Football team for their outstanding performances in national competitions. The Rockford F.I.R.E team excelled at the AAU Junior Olympic Games, earning two All-American titles and multiple Club of the Year awards, including the AAU Track & Field National Club of the Year! 🏆 The Rockford Bears 15U Flag Football team represented Rockford and the Chicago Bears with pride at the NFL Flag Football Championships in the NFL Hall of Fame Village at Canton, Ohio. With our athletics reaching new heights and the need for improved facilities, we're thrilled to announce that the park board has approved Phase 1 improvements at Clarence Hicks Memorial Sports Park. This park, which hosts programs like NFL Flag Football, NFL Cheer, Track & Field, Youth Sports Outreach, and the Rockford Wolves, will soon feature a new artificial turf field, an eight-lane track, and ample space for spectators. These upgrades will provide a permanent home for our athletes and eliminate the need for off-site practices that have currently been needed. We are excited for our athletes to finally have a permanent home at the Clarence Hicks Memorial Sports Park.

Last week, we visited our playground camps to learn what matters most to kids for their playgrounds and parks. We asked them to draw what they wish their park had, and share their favorite outdoor activities. After they finished their drawings, they added their "idea leaves" to our growth tree, symbolizing the positive changes we envision for our park district. As we continue collecting surveys to ensure our community has a say in the future of our local parks, we're making sure our children's voices and opinions are heard loud and clear! 🌳✨ #KidsInParks #PlaygroundDreams #GrowingTogether #CommunityVoices #ParksForTheFuture #CommunitySurvey

🏒 We've had a busy summer with our StreetHogs program, bringing the fun of hockey to our Time 2 Play summer camps several times a week! Thanks to the generous donations from the Chicago Blackhawks and the Rockford IceHogs, we've been able to provide all the necessary equipment for kids to play the sport of hockey! We are incredibly grateful to the Blackhawks and IceHogs for helping us break down the barriers of cost and lack of equipment for the kids in our community. Their support allows us to grow the game of hockey in Rockford and introduce this amazing sport to kids who might never have considered hockey an option for them! #StreetHogs #Rockford #ChicagoBlackhawks #RockfordIceHogs #GrowTheGame #YouthSports #StreetHockey

📋 COMMUNITY SURVEY: Five years ago, we engaged with our community through a survey to develop a strategic plan based on the feedback we received. Thanks to everyone's feedback, we've spent the past five years transforming our park district to better serve our community. We've increased investment in neighborhood parks, focused on priority areas, and boosted support for the next generation, especially our youth and teens.   📽️ Check out this video to see how exactly we've focused on our priority areas, including the renovation of Riverview Ice House, the creation of Perks Family Equine Center, and the new Levings Unity Pavilion performance stage to just name a few!   👉 Take our community survey now to help shape our next 5-year focus! https://lnkd.in/g_9Ri-6X   #YourParksYourFocus #BuildingBetterParks #TogetherWeGrow #RPD