Rockford prepares to move forward with the next big step for Davis Park

July 14, 2025|By Kevin Haas|In News, Rock River Current, 815 News, Local, Rockford, Top Stories, Featured

City Council members are considering a $7.6 million contract with Stenstrom Excavation to revamp Davis Park with new paths, a skatepark and playground, among other upgrades. (Image via city of Rockford)

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A decades-long plan to overhaul Davis Park to make it a year-round attraction is set to make its biggest step forward since the Lorden building was demolished nearly three years ago.

The city is considering awarding a $7.6 million contract to Stenstrom Excavation to install multiuse paths, lighting, a skatepark, playground and parking lot with electric vehicle accommodations. That work also includes seawall repairs, landscaping and other ground preparation for a future stage, restrooms and concession stand in the next phase of construction.

It’s unclear, however, when the stage and other buildings may be built. The bids on that portion of the project came in over budget and the city is reconsidering its approach.

“We held off on the building knowing that we’re likely going to have to find an alternative path in terms of materials, scope and design,” City Administrator Todd Cagnoni said. “But it’s important to advance this forward so that our council can get engaged in the conversation.”

The contract with Stenstrom will be up for consideration tonight by the City Council’s Finance & Personnel Committee. It would go before the full City Council July 21 if approved. Stenstrom was the lowest of three bids sent to the city. (Update: Aldermen delayed any vote Monday night, laying over the matter for two weeks.)

The project is being funded through city capital funds, roughly $3 million in funding from a budget surplus in 2023, and state funding from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. State Sen. Steve Stadelman helped secure roughly $4.5 million in support of the project, including money for the previously installed floating boat docks.

“I think a strong downtown Rockford is important to the entire region, and I think Davis Park is a key component of that,” Stadelman told the Rock River Current. “It’s been underutilized and we need to upgrade it so it becomes a major attraction.”

Davis Park, which is the only city-owned park, is at 320 S. Wyman St., at the corner of South Wyman and Chestnut streets along the Rock River. The Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront, which opened five years ago, overlooks the park. It’s also next to train tracks that will be used by Metra when passenger rail service returns in late 2027.

Stadelman said rail upgrades could begin by the end of the year, but most will happen in 2026.

“The synergy that’s being created in that area is incredible, and I think right now we need to upgrade Davis Park to take advantage of that and create even more energy,” he said.

The city plans to complete this phase of Davis Park improvements in time for the Ironman 70.3 in 2026.

Buildings and budget

Davis Park, 320 S. Wyman St., is located along the Rock River near future Metra rail. (Image via City of Rockford)

The city is only moving forward with the site work portion of the project after the bids for building the stage and concession stand came in about $3.9 million over budget.

The roughly $11 million total budget for Davis Park renovations will have about $1.6 million left for the building construction once site work is complete. However, the bids for the restrooms, stage and concession stands came in about double the anticipated budget. The low bid for the stage came in around $3.6 million and the restroom and concessions were about $2 million.

Moves have already been made in preparation for work to get underway. The picturesque Rockford sign at the gateway to Davis Park has been removed ahead of construction, and GoRockford said it will announce the next location at a future date.

The Screw City Steel murals on steel doors harvested from Rockford Products have been turned over for display at the four public high schools in Rockford: Jefferson, East, Guilford and Auburn.

The land was obtained by the city in 1989. The Morris and Roberta Davis trust provided initial funding for maintenance with the understanding it would one day become a festival park.

The city developed its current master plan for the park in 2016, and moved forward with the first phase in August 2022.

Moving forward now honors the original agreement, and it is designed to create another draw in downtown that will bolster economic activity.

“It supports our downtown residents and our citywide residents when you advance a park of this magnitude,” Cagnoni said.