Rockford Park District
www.rockfordparkdistrict.org/
The Rockford Park District was formed in 1909 and is governed by an elected five-member board of commissioners who serve six-year terms without compensation. It is the second largest municipal park system in Illinois, serving the communities of Rockford, Illinois, including Loves Park, Cherry Valley, New Milford, and adjacent unincorporated areas of Boone and Winnebago Counties. The District serves a population of 208,132 with 84,083 households residing within the Park District boundaries. The Rockford Park District has twice been awarded the prestigious National Gold Medal for excellence in parks and recreation management, and is a Distinguished Agency, professionally accredited for high standards and superior services.
Contents
1 About the District
2 Major Facilities and Attractions
2.1 Sportscore Complexes
2.2 Atwood Enviornmental Center
2.3 Carlson Ice Arena/Riverview Ice House
2.4 Lockwood Park
2.5 Forest City Queen Riverboat and Trolley Car 36
2.6 Sinnissippi Music Shell
2.7 Magic Waters Water Park
3 Golf
3.1 Elliot Golf Course
3.2 Ingersoll Golf Course
3.3 Sandy Hollow Golf Course
3.4 Sinnissippi Golf Course
3.5 Aldeen Golf Club
4 Museums
4.1 Burpee Museum of Natural History
4.2 Discovery Center Museum
4.3 Midway Village Museum
4.4 Riverfront Museum Park
4.5 Rockford Art Museum
4.6 Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum
5 External links
6 References
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About the District
Major Facilities and Attractions
The Rockford Park District has 175 parks and recreational facilities, services and programs available to the public. As of the 2008 profile, the Park District had 9.3 million total user visits.
Sportscore Complexes
Sportscore One Built in 1983 on 105 acres adjacent to the Rock River in northwest Rockford, this is the original Sportscore complex. Sportscore One has eight lighted softball diamonds, eight regulation soccer fields, nine soccer fields (Atwood Soccer Center), two permanent concessions on the softball side with restrooms, two playgrounds, a soccer center building with concessions and locker facilities, boat ramps, and a recreation path.
Recreational activities at Sportscore One include soccer, softball, boating, fishing, and recreational path use. Local play plus regional and national tournaments attract over a million visitors to this location a year, and it’s consistently rated as the area’s top tourist destination.
Sportscore Two The newest recreational activity center is Sportscore Two, a 124 acre site developed in 2001. It’s a major tourism draw on weekends and provides local players home field advantage! On weekdays, local teams use the Sportscore complex for practice, training and matches. On weekends, local clubs host tournaments so players can participate close to home.
Sportscore Two has 19 regulation soccer fields and 14 practice fields outdoors, five sand volleyball courts, with an Indoor Sports Center containing three multi-sport surfaces. This recreation center hosts activities that include soccer, rugby, football, volleyball (hard court), golf, softball, basketball, wiffle ball, dodgeball, ultimate Frisbee, adapted and wheelchair sports.
The Sportscore Complexes
The excellent reputation for quality playing fields and management earned this facility the 2005 “Sports Complex of the Year” award from the Sports Turf Managers Association.
A glimpse into an average season will find over 4,000 tournament soccer teams and 15,000 youth from regular soccer leagues utilizing the fields at Sportscore Two.
There are indoor and outdoor concession and picnic areas, a playground to keep the little ones busy, and ample parking surrounding the complex. There are parking fees charged during tournaments.
ISC The Wedgbury Indoor Sports Center contains three multi-sport indoor fields for indoor soccer, 5 volleyball/basketball courts, locker rooms, sports equipment store, and SkyBox, a family friendly casual restaurant and sports bar.
Various types of games are accommodated at the Indoor Sports Center – hard court volleyball, indoor soccer, in-line hockey, dodgeball, badminton, golf, Wiffle Ball, kickball, Punt, Pass and Kick, and NBA 2 Ball.
Wheelchair athletics are very popular at ISC with wheelchair basketball (Rockford Chariots, Junior Chariots), Power Soccer, and Blaze Sports (track, field, boccia, basketball, open gym) for children and adults who use a wheelchair, are visually impaired, have an amputation, or have a neurological/muscular impairment. The facility is completely wheelchair accessible and adaptive equipment is available.
Sixty thousand square feet can accommodate a variety of events, formal to informal, sports, receptions, conventions, and parties. ISC is available for event rental – we’ve hosted trade shows, expos, car shows, dog agility competitions and feline shows, bridge tournaments, concerts, festivals, carnivals, and weddings.
Atwood Enviornmental Center
From its 334-acre location, the Center in Rockford, Illinois offers residential environmental outdoor education, day programs, summer camps, mobile nature programs, challenge courses, birds of prey programs, cross country ski clinics, and special events.
Atwood Environmental Center is located in historic Atwood Park, which encompasses 334 acres of woodland, prairie, river and marsh habitat. Atwood is home to the Birds of Prey program, with owls, hawks and bald eagles in residence for visitors to enjoy.
Carlson Ice Arena/Riverview Ice House
The Rockford Park District’s ice facilities have been serving the area’s diverse skating interests since 1975. From champion figure skaters to outstanding youth and high school hockey teams to recreational skaters. The Park District is able to provide year-round programming for all ages and abilities.
The Carlson Ice Arena features a 200 x 85 feet ice rink with seating for 600 spectators. This facility is also home to the Sapora Playworld, a three-level soft play structure designed for children ages 512 and a Tiny Tots Playspace designed for children 4 and under, a skate shop, meeting rooms, concession counter and additional youth activity programs.
Located on the banks of the beautiful Rock River in downtown Rockford, the Riverview Ice House features two skating surfaces: a 200 x 85 feet regulation size Main Rink with grandstand seating for 900 and a 60 ft. x 100 ft. instructional Studio Rink.
Lockwood Park
A country atmosphere located just minutes from downtown Rockford. Over 94 acres of gently rolling hills, meadows, woods, natural areas and a stream provide a backdrop for your visit to Lockwood Park Trailside Equestrian Centre and Children’s Farm.
Little ones will delight in the friendly barnyard animals. Pony rides for children ages 17 are given in a covered pony ring. Ages 8 and over may enjoy a leisurely 45-minute guided trail ride experience through the scenic Lockwood and Page parks. Hay wagon rides are tractor drawn for a quaint, country experience. Lockwood Park also features picnic tables, shelter pavilions and playgrounds.
Visitors are able to enjoy Lockwood’s beautiful trail system in many ways – hiking, biking, or horseback riding. There are many miles of scenic trails winding through Lockwood and Page parks with water crossings and shady areas.
Forest City Queen Riverboat and Trolley Car 36
Departing from downtown Rockford, by rail and by “sail” you will discover interesting tidbits about the early history of the Rockford community by enjoying a ride on the Track Trolley or the Forest City Queen riverboat.
The Forest City Queen gives you an up close and personal glimpse of some of the most stately homes gracing the banks of the Rock River. Riders will hear about Rockford’s humble beginnings on the Rock River and its continuing influence today. A variety of cruise options are available, from hourly narration tours, private rentals, family-style picnics, Ski Broncs performances, to elegant dining.
Trolley Car 36 offers a unique ride through downtown Rockford, beginning at the Trolley Station in Riverview Park and continuing with a ride along Madison Street beside the scenic Rock River Recreation Path. Riders stop for a brief visit to the Sinnissippi Greenhouse, travel to the Symbol , then turn around and return to the Trolley Station.
Sinnissippi Music Shell
The Music Shell was officially presented to the City of Rockford and the Rockford Park District on June 4, 1950 by the Rockford Lions Club, in conjunction with the Rockford Civic Orchestra. The Music Shell in Sinnissippi Park is an acoustic amphitheater, which can accommodate as many as 700 on benches, and up to 3,000 on the terraces and lawn. A favorite spot of many local congregations and arts organizations, the Music Shell hosts a wide variety of events throughout the season.
Magic Waters Water Park
Magic Waters Water Park
Rockford Park District has operated this family-friendly waterpark since 1988 with high standards for safety, cleanliness, and friendly customer service. The park offers nine major attractions, including a water roller coaster and a 707,000 gallon wave pool. For 2009, Magic Waters introduces a new water ride – Typhoon Terror. For more information on Magic Waters, please visit their website.
Golf
Whether new to golf, a junior golfer or an experienced player, the many courses offered by the Rockford Park District are sure to satisfy any golfer’s needs. The district operates five golf courses for the devoted golfers in the Rockford area. There are three 18 hole courses: Elliot, Ingersoll and Sandy Hollow; one 9 hole course: Sinnissippi; and the Aldeen Golf Club, a quality championship public golf course with country club amenities.
Elliot Golf Course
This 18-hole championship course was rated 3-1/2 stars by Golf Digest. It has 6,433 yards of rolling terrain, large trees and spacious greens. It is a Par 72 course. A special feature is the lighted driving range which is open evenings. It is named for Earl F. Elliot, a long-time director of the Rockford Park District. Opened in 1968, Elliot Golf Course is conveniently located off Interstate 90, near the hotel/motel district on the city’s far east side.
Ingersoll Golf Course
This wooded 18-hole course with narrow fairways and gently rolling terrain offers 6,107 challenging yards on its par 71 course. Opened in 1922, it is named for Lt. Clayton Ingersoll, who lost his life in an air crash over France in World War I. This course is located on Rockford’s far west side and was selected by the Tiger Woods Foundation to host Tiger Woods for a two-day golf clinic in 2001 and 2004.
Dedicated in 2004, Ingersoll Learning Links four-hole course and practice center is adjacent to the clubhouse. The Learning Links is the perfect place for families and children of all ages to have fun playing the game of golf. It features holes ranging from 60 yards to 105 yards (when played with regular golf balls). Adults can level the playing field for a more competitive experience by using Caymen or “Almost Golf” balls to lengthen the Learning Links.
Sandy Hollow Golf Course
Opened in 1930 on the city’s south side, this beautiful and challenging course is by far the most popular of the five Park District courses. Golf Digest rated this course three stars. Par is 71 at this 18-hole, tree lined fairway course of 6,228 yards. Sandy Hollow is certified by the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary and placed first in the Public Space category of the 2002 City of Gardens Rockford in Bloom Awards.
Sinnissippi Golf Course
Centrally located in beautiful Sinnissippi Park, this 9-hole course is the Park District’s oldest, opening in 1912. This 3,230 yard course is very hilly and has stymied many golfers. Par is 37.
Aldeen Golf Club
Aldeen was rated 4-1/2 stars by 2008 Golf Digest Magazine’s Places to Play guidebook. GOLF Magazine ranks the course #23 as one of the Thrifty Fifty (top 50 courses in the country under $50). The Aldeen Golf Club has set a new standard for upscale public golf in northern Illinois. Thanks to the generosity of Norris and Margaret Aldeen, any golfer can experience this quality championship facilitywith country club amenities at an affordable rate. Aldeen has also been chosen to host the following championships:
Site of the 2013 Illinois State Men’s Amateur Championship
Site for 2014 U.S. Golf Association Open Championship Sectional Qualifying
Host site of the 2008 Illinois State Men’s Senior Amateur Championship
Host site of the 2004 Illinois State Women’s Amateur Championship
Host site of the 2001 Illinois State Men’s Amateur Championship
For more information on Aldeen Golf Club, visit their website.
Museums
The Rockford Park District is very proud of its extended family of museums. These fine institutions are of substantial benefit to the Park District’s citizens as they promote the cultural, educational, and recreational well-being of the community. The museums play an enormous role in the quality of life enjoyed in the Rockford community, as well as the educational and historical significance they provide in delivering programs and displaying exhibits.
The Rockford Park District owns the land and all the buildings and structures of the museums (with the exception of the Burpee Museum’s Solem Wing). The ownership of this land and buildings is a public trust for the benefit and use of the citizens of the District and patrons of the museums. The museums own the tangible personal property consisting of exhibits, furniture, furnishings, records, equipment, and display cases. Each museum is governed by volunteer boards and has their own paid staff, along with many hundreds of devoted volunteers.
Burpee Museum of Natural History
Burpee Museum of Natural History specializes in palentology, geology, biology and Native American life. The museum offers three floors of exhibits and a lower level viewing lab.
Jane: Diary of a Dinosaur
Permanent exhibits include:
Jane: Diary of a Dinosaur
The Children’s Gallery
The First People
Windows to Wilderness: Exploring Nature in the Rock River Valley
The Dean Olson Specimen Viewing Lab
Discovery Center Museum
The #4 Children’s Museum in the nation, as ranked by Child Magazine, right in the heart of Rockford. Developed with families in mind, Discovery Center Museum is a place for real work explorations, hands-on investigation and igniting imagination! Discovery Center has over 250 hands-on exhibits and is home to the nation’s first community-built outdoor science park. Discovery Center also houses a domed planetarium, television news studio and art studio. Located on the Museum’s second floor is Tot Spot, a room designed to help younger visitors explore the world of science and art through hands-on play with an indoor water play area, role-play areas, a giant doll house, and much more.
Midway Village Museum
Midway Village Museum is Rockford’s History Museum. Visitors are able to step back in time and explore life as it was at the turn of the twentieth century. Midway Village features interpreters in period costumes and furnished historic buildings with a series of excellent special events that reenact history. The indoor Museum Center features both permanent and changing exhibits. The museum also offers a range of history and educational programs such as:
Summer Day Camps
Heritage Garden Tours
Field Trips
Riverfront Museum Park
This unique cultural facility is home to the Discovery Center Museum and Rockford Art Museum, as well as Northern Public Radio , Rockford Dance Company, and Rockford Symphony Orchestra.
Rockford Art Museum
Founded in 1913, the Rockford Art Museum features world-class exhibitions; rotating exhibits of its 1600-piece permanent collection, art programs and artist events at the Art Annex, art classes, lectures, gallery walks and guided tours; annual fundraisers Art in the Garden, Greenwich Village Art Fair, The Barbara Rinella Luncheon and Evergreen Ball; and the newly remodeled RAM Store.
Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum
Tinker Swiss Cottage offers a glimpse of a forgotten age. Rockford businessman and one-time mayor Robert Hall Tinker built this exotic Victorian home in 1865 after a whirlwind trip to Europe. Today, filled with original furnishings, artwork and family diaries, Tinker Swiss Cottage is open as a museum, transporting its visitors back to Rockford in the 1890s. The Cottage is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Over the past few years, steps have been taken to return the Tinker estate to the way it once was. In 2005, the Museum reconstructed the 1891 suspension bridge that once linked Mr. Tinker’s cottage with his wife’s property on the other side of Kent Creek. The unique bridge is now open for visitors to experience as part of their tour. A circular rose garden in front of the Cottage has been recreated using heritage varieties of roses and perennials. In addition, Mr. Tinker’s 1873 barn has also been reconstructed, and offers space for special events, exhibits, programs, meetings and community events.
External links
[Rockford Park District Website]
References
^ a b www.rockfordparkdistrict.org
^ http://www.rockfordparkdistrict.org/home/facilitiesandattractions/sportscorecomplexes/sportscoreone/
^ http://www.rockfordparkdistrict.org/home/facilitiesandattractions/sportscorecomplexes/sportscoretwo/
^ http://www.rockfordparkdistrict.org/home/facilitiesandattractions/sportscorecomplexes/indoorsportscenter/
^ http://www.rockfordparkdistrict.org/home/facilitiesandattractions/environmentalcenteriloutdooreduc/
^ http://www.rockfordparkdistrict.org/home/facilitiesandattractions/carlsonicearenariverviewicehouse/
^ http://www.rockfordparkdistrict.org/home/facilitiesandattractions/lockwoodpark/
^ http://www.rockfordparkdistrict.org/home/facilitiesandattractions/sinnissippimusicshell/
^ http://www.rockfordparkdistrict.org/home/facilitiesandattractions/golf/golf_courses/golfcourses_elliot/
^ http://www.rockfordparkdistrict.org/home/facilitiesandattractions/golf/golf_courses/golfcourses_ingersoll/
^ http://www.rockfordparkdistrict.org/home/facilitiesandattractions/golf/golf_courses/golfcourses_sandyhollow/
^ http://www.rockfordparkdistrict.org/home/facilitiesandattractions/golf/golf_courses/golfcourses_sinnissippi/
^ http://www.aldeengolfclub.com/home/generalinfo/generalinfo_awardsrecognition/generalinfo_accolades.aspx
^ http://www.burpee.org/
^ http://www.discoverycentermuseum.org/
^ http://www.midwayvillage.com/
^ http://www.rockfordartmuseum.org/
^ http://www.tinkercottage.com/
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