Rockford Park District pushes to fund ‘desperately needed’ equestrian center focused on mental health

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The Rockford Park District has secured nearly $4 million to build an indoor equestrian center at Lockwood Park designed to help youth cope with trauma, stress or other mental health issues.

The project is expected to cost up to $2 million more, but Park District Executive Director Jay Sandine said he’s confident the district will be able to proceed.

“It’s really important work and it’s desperately needed,” Sandine said. “I’ve seen the more people who find out about this, they’re super excited and want to be a part of it.”

Background: ‘A new avenue to help’: Indoor equestrian center aims to help Rockford area youth handle trauma

The Winnebago County Mental Health Board last week announced its latest round of funding, including $500,000 for the indoor equestrian center. That was short of the $1.5 million the district had requested.

The board decided on the lower amount to maintain consistency with other requests tied to capital expenses, board officials said. It also wanted to follow-up with the district about its long-term commitment to mental health.

“We are super appreciative and excited for the support,” Sandine said. “A half-million dollars is huge not just for the project, but I think it’s a big sign that the Park District is a major player when it comes to the mental health of our kids in the community. Having experts in that field see that too is huge for us.”

On Tuesday, the district’s board of commissioners will consider directing the Rockford Park District Foundation – its nonprofit fundraising arm – to prioritize the equestrian center.

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It’s unclear what the final cost of the project will be because of rising materials costs and supply-chain issues, but the district is working on refining its estimate, Sandine said. It anticipates roughly $4 million to $6 million. District officials previously said they hope to start construction in fall, pending fundraising. There’s no timeline in place yet for construction, but Sandine wants to move quickly.

“The timeline we’re most concerned about is the kids that need these types of programs,” he said. “The longer it takes us to get this facility built and the programs going, the more kids who are sitting at home or out on the streets needing help.”

“I want to get this thing built and programmed as fast as possible because I know we have a heck of a lot of kids in town who desperately need it.”

Related: How the Winnebago County Jail is adding mental health services

The indoor center at Lockwood Park, 5201 Safford Road, would serve the needs of youth with mental health issues, developmental disabilities, trauma, domestic abuse, substance addiction, behavioral issues and other needs through equine-assisted activities.

“They can not only feel a sense of purpose and connection, but it’s also a way that may start developing skills and confidence for them,” said Kevin Polky of KP Counseling, which would be one of the partnering institutions to provide therapy. “They can recognize the narrative they’ve been telling themselves because of previous experiences may not be true.”

Working with horses can help kids who may be resistant to traditional talk therapy because of trauma or other life experiences they’ve faced, Polky said.

“It gives them a sense of meaning, a sense of purpose, a sense of connectedness,” Polkey said. “They know that it’s real and it’s not fabricated because they know that his horse is just reflecting back to them their true experience.”

Trust exercises participants do with horses can help them “break through those previous learned barriers,” Polkey said. “Then afterwards a therapist will process how that experience they just had can carry over to other areas of life or other relationships they have.”

Related: Rockford exhibit showcases artists with mental health issues

The Perks Family Foundation and The Blazer Foundation each donated $500,000 to the district for the center. The Smith Charitable Trust added $50,000. The Park District has pledged up to $2 million.

“As we are reducing our footprint in other areas of the Park District, we’re putting money toward high-priority areas like Lockwood Park,” Sandine said.

Sandine expects more partners will support the project.

“It started as a Park District project and now it’s a community project with a lot of different partners,” he said. “I think it’s an opportunity to really put Lockwood on the map and help a heck of a lot of kids here in our community.”

Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, which has been observed in the United States since 1949. Throughout the month, the Rock River Current will publish several stories looking at use of the mental health sales tax in Winnebago County and other local initiatives centered around mental health.

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas.