North Park Fire moves into new central station in Machesney Park

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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MACHESNEY PARK — The North Park Fire Protection District has moved into its new centrally located fire station, a nearly 20,000-square-foot facility that replaces three decades-old hubs that no longer fit the department’s modern firefighting needs.

The new station, 1011 Harlem Road, is in the center of the district’s largest area for calls. It has five double bays to house its nine vehicles, which includes three engines, a ladder truck and a rescue boat. It also provides firefighters with amenities including a kitchen and break room, eight small bedrooms and three bathroom/showers in a bunk area, a fitness area, training classroom, conference room and various office space.

“I feel like it’s something to be proud of, but we weren’t ostentatious,” North Park Fire Chief Joel Hallstrom said.

The district started working out of the station about a month ago, but it’s still wrapping up final punch list items such as finishing the fitness space, hanging office decor and some other efforts to organize the space.

Hallstrom said they plan to hold an official dedication and open house in spring to invite the public to see the new space.

Construction of the new facility was funded by a $5 million bond sale that voters approved in June 2022. It was designed by Blakemore Architects of Rockford and built by Cord Construction.

The district saved money by furnishing the building with desks, chairs and other items obtained at no cost through the federal government surplus program. The furniture came from agencies such as a the Federal Aviation Administration, Coast Guard and Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

“All the furniture in every one of these offices was in a federal office somewhere once,” Hallstrom said. “We’re really lucky that way in that we’ve been blessed in finding that stuff.”

He said the new station also offers utility efficiencies. The first month’s gas bill was down about $400, for example.

“Those old buildings weren’t insulated. They were just block buildings,” Hallstrom said.

The new facility’s in-floor heating in the bay helps keep the ground dry and it dries the vehicles from underneath.

“For the longevity of our apparatus, that’s a huge win because it drys them so the frames don’t rot, they don’t rust as easily,” he said.

It also has 26-and-a-half-foot high ceilings that make it easier to perform maintenance while indoors. The previous facilities were built when trucks were smaller and required less space.

Now, an engine from 1947 when the district was founded sits on display at the front entrance to serve as an educational tool when students tour or other guests visit the site.

The old stations also lacked the live-in amenities such as showers and sleeping quarters that became necessary when the district added full-time firefighters.

The new station was built on a former residential site that had three homes, including a blighted structure.

The location was key because approximately 85% of the district’s calls are within a three-mile radius. North Park Fire covers 15 square miles largely in southern Machesney Park, as well as unincorporated areas outside Loves Park and Rockford

Hallstrom said the department hasn’t done a data analysis in its first month, but he expects it will prove to have faster response times to most calls.

“There’s a definite feel that we’re faster out the door, because we’re not coming out of a basement,” Hallstrom said. “And being on this thoroughfare … we’re on scene faster to the bulk of where we go.”

The new station replaces the hubs at 600 Wood Ave., 2275 Harlem Road and 3924 N. Alpine Road. The Harlem Road and Alpine Road stations have been sold, with the proceeds going toward paying off the bonds. The Wood Avenue site is for sale.

The Harlem Road location was sold Dec. 9 to Three Hammer Construction for $399,000, according to records from the Winnebago County Clerk and Recorder’s Office. The Alpine Road facility was sold in October 2023 to Warner Winnebago, an LLC connected to the owner of Warner Roofing, for $250,000.

“They weren’t intended for how we operate now,” Hallstrom said. “Not that we’re going to grow, but if things get bigger we can go another 50, 75 years and not have a problem”

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