Davis Park’s long-planned makeover earns Rockford City Council’s approval

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — City Council members have signed off on a $15.5 million plan to overhaul Davis Park in downtown with a new concert stage, walking paths, skate park, playground and other amenities.

The vote came Monday after about a monthlong delay as aldermen questioned the scope and cost of the project. Aldermen discussed the issue again for nearly 40 minutes on Monday before they ultimately voted 13-1 to approve three contracts tied to redeveloping the riverfront park at South Wyman and Chestnut streets. Alderwoman Gina Meeks cast the only no vote.

“We’re in a great position. I do want to say a sincere thank you. There has been a tremendous amount of public engagement dating back to the 2018 task force made up of residents,” Mayor Tom McNamara said on the This Week in the Stateline podcast. “Without their engagement we wouldn’t be where we’re at. Yes it has taken awhile, but the key thing is it’s getting done.”

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The city’s goal is to complete the development in time for next year’s Ironman 70.3 on June 14, which is a week earlier than it was previously scheduled. Ironman, which brought about 2,700 competitors to Rockford this summer, uses Davis Park as a key staging and race transition area.

The park will also include a concession stand, restroom, lighting, public art and the great lawn for music festivals and other events. Floating boat docks were installed in 2023. A previous plan for electric vehicle parking has been removed, as was a previously pitched sunning beach.

Davis Park is the only city-owned park in Rockford, with the rest owned and operated by the Rockford Park District. The city’s goal has long been to transform it into a hub of daily activity and special events such as concerts and festivals. The property is named for Morris and Robert Davis, who provided through a trust financing for the first phase of development decades ago.

“The greatest service a city can do for its community is to build up its populated areas with amenities like parks and playgrounds and skate parks like Davis Park is doing,” David Gackstetter, a 34-year-old design engineer at Collins Aerospace, said during public comment on Monday. “Too often cities like to push these things to the outskirts of town to recreational complexes or sports fields that require a car and some planning to get to. While those are popular solutions, where I’ve seen playgrounds and skate parks thrive the most is in areas of the city that are by others things like businesses and houses and neighborhoods.”

The entertainment at the park will be booked by ASM Global, the agency hired by the Rockford Area Venues & Entertainment Authority to manage the Coronado Theatre, BMO Center and Davis Park.

City Council members on Monday approved a $5.6 million contract with Stenstrom Construction to build the stage, concession stand and restrooms. A separate $7.5 million contract was awarded to Stenstrom Excavation for the paths, skate park, playground, lighting and other site work including ground preparation and seawall repairs. Aldermen also OK’d an additional $465,000 for Madison, Wisconsin-based SmithGroup for its engineering services.

Meeks, who cast the lone no vote, said she was concerned that the city was taking on management and maintenance of a park and playground without a partnership of the park district. She also questioned whether it was the right priority for taxpayer dollars.

“It was just a couple of weeks ago we were talking about a grocery tax … and saying that if we don’t pass this grocery tax we’re going to be short $6-$8 million,” Meeks said. “Then weeks later we’re turning around spending millions of dollars.”

Several aldermen said they agreed with Meeks concerns, but noted that many of the dollars funding the Davis Park project could not be put toward other uses.

Mayor Tom McNamara also said that despite the park district not partnering to handle maintenance at Davis Park, the city would continue to look for partnership opportunities with the park district.

He said Davis Park was going forward after years of planning, public engagement and feedback from stakeholders.

“The one thing we have not done with Davis Park is rush it,” he said.

How it’s funded

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