By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
Get our mobile app
ROCKFORD — A neighborhood park on the city’s south side will soon have new features that allow residents to walk and workout in daytime or under lights at night.
Construction broke ground Thursday at Harmon Park, 1924 E. Gate Parkway, on a new 1/3-mile recreation path around the perimeter of the park. There will be three fitness stations with outdoor exercise equipment and 29 lights along the path.
“I’m looking forward to it. I work from home full-time, and I’m going to be utilizing it on my lunch breaks for sure,” said Kristen Brannon, a mother of two who has lived across the street from the park for about six years. “It’s a great opportunity for people who can’t make it to a gym or afford a gym membership.”
More news: New family-run business with homemade ice cream opens in Rockford’s Midtown
Construction is being handled by Stenstrom Companies and is expected to be complete by the end of the summer. Tree Care Enterprises is handling some tree pruning needed for the project. All trees at the park will remain.
advertisement
The $432,000 project is funded entirely by a state Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity grant secured by state Rep. Maurice West.
West said the project held special importance to him because he has experienced first hand how walking and exercising in a local park can improve your mental health.
“I know how parks can help my mental well-being and others well-being,” West said.
Tom Lind, landscape architect for the Rockford Park District, said a light will also be added to the existing picnic shelter.
“We’ll work closely with our park maintenance team and our park police team to make sure that lighting is programmed property so that we’re deterring misuse, not attracting it, and we’re creating a nice safe pathway for all the residents to use,” he said.
More news: Retired journalist Wally Haas tapped to lead Transform Rockford
Brannon, who walked to the groundbreaking ceremony from her home, said the path will also make walking safer for residents in the neighborhood.
“There’s a lot of people walking in the streets and people speed through here all the time, so it’s really concerning,” she said.
Jay Sandine, executive director of the Rockford Park District, said residents have told the district time and time again that they’re top priorities for investments are neighborhood parks, trails, open space and recreation paths. The district has done that by reducing the scope of what it operates, including leasing the former Magic Waters to Six Flags Great America and closing the former Elliot Golf Course.
“We’re reducing our footprint, we’re freeing up resources and we’re reinvesting our dollars into those areas of high priority,” Sandine said. “Neighborhood parks are critical to the health and well-being of our community, and investing in neighborhood parks is a top priority for the Park District as stated by the citizens we serve.”
Sandine joked with some of the residents who attended the groundbreaking as he closed his remarks at the ceremony.
“You all have no excuse now not to go and exercise.”
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas