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After raising funds to help the Rockford Park District with a portable fitness project for local youths, the Rockford Area REALTORS® (RAR) are using their influence to help the park district develop one park and improve another one.
First, RAR applied for and secured a $1,500 National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Placemaking Level 1 Grant and added $150 of its own funds to support a Youth Fitness Pop-Up Park.
Over the course of nine days, park district volunteers used an empty lot next to Clarence Hicks Memorial Sports Park on the city’s southwest side to test the idea. Using signage to identify the activities and educate participants, volunteers led boys and girls in track and field activities and helped them safely use power fitness ropes, plyometric boxes and other exercise equipment.
“The Youth Fitness Pop-Up Park was such a huge success that it led to an additional partnership with the Rockford Park District,” said Illinois REALTORS® Local Governmental Affairs Director Neeley Erickson. “We are sponsoring two community listening sessions to gather resident feedback about the development of vacant underutilized space next to Hicks Memorial. The sessions will help residents voice their preferences for the neighborhood park’s design and the playground equipment that’s installed.”
Rockford Area REALTORS® donated $500 and secured a $5,000 NAR Smart Growth Level 2 Grant to assist with survey, mailing, printing, food and marketing costs for the project. The new park will be known as Saturn Park.
Finally, Rockford REALTORS® have also applied for a $5,000 NAR Placemaking Grant so that the park district can transform the beach front at Levings Park to a more inclusive entertainment venue. Following the installation of a plaza deck, other improvements will include shade sails, electrical lighting, plantings, tables and chairs. When complete, the entertainment venue will be more accessible.
“REALTORS® live, work and volunteer in their communities and take immense pride in partnering with others to make our Northern Illinois region’s neighborhoods better places to live, work and raise a family,” said Jerry Gibson, RAR President. “This grant gives us a tangible, immediate opportunity to team up in revitalizing a space that promotes more community destination places in our region.”
NAR offers Placemaking Grants to state and local REALTOR® associations around the country to create new public spaces and destinations in a community, such as turning a parking spot into a people spot (parklet) or a vacant lot into a pocket park or garden.
“We know our amazing parks are a big selling feature for our region. Continued investment like this helps nearby neighborhoods increase in value,” said Conor Brown, RAR CEO.
