Clarence Hicks Sports Complex Officially Opens!

ROCKFORD, IL – A high-performance 8-lane running track, top-tier pro turf field, and programmable LED field lights usually found only at professional stadiums are now a part of the Rockford Park District’s new state-of-the-art facility at Clarence Hicks Sports Complex, 2004 Ogilby Road, Rockford.

Based on community feedback provided in 2018 and 2024, the Rockford Park District added a recommendation to its Strategic Action Plan to increase investments at Clarence Hicks Memorial Sports Park, due to the continued growth of these sports programs and to invest in our next generation.

Over the years, the Rockford Park District has made improvements to the 77-acre park in southwest Rockford, including new scoreboards, signs, fencing, bleachers, turf playground surface, an asphalt path, and a large shade structure with a concrete pad. A new access road off Ogilby Road was also constructed to improve the traffic flow at this destination for youth sports and community recreation.

“This complex will give our local athletes a place to grow, compete, and thrive. It’s a game-changer. This is where legends begin. Clarence Hicks Sports Complex is exactly what I dreamed of twenty-plus years ago when I came to the Rockford Park District looking for some space to start a flag football program. We started at Brown Park and outgrew that location. Over the years, we have had to utilize other venues to meet the continued growth of the Youth Sports programs,” said Lamont Jones, Manager of Clarence Hicks Memorial Sports Park and Youth Sports Outreach.

“Creating this sports complex is crucial for developing the physical skills, mental resilience, personal character, and life skills of these athletes and is all possible thanks to the support we’ve received from the Chicago Bears, The VanVleet Family Foundation, State of Illinois, and many other organizations, along with amazing volunteers. This location will unite youth, teens, and families through their common love of play and provide a permanent home for football, track and field programming, and allow us to introduce a new outreach soccer program called MLS GO, which is Major League Soccer’s youth soccer experience that creates an inclusive and elevated experience for all participants.”

The total project cost for Phase 1 improvements is $7,564,313.53. The Rockford Park District received a $2.8 million Park and Recreation Facility Construction Act (PARC) grant from the State of Illinois to help with construction costs. Senator Steve Stadelman also secured $600,000 in state funding for Phase 1 improvements to Clarence Hicks Sports Complex. The Rockford Park District contributed over $4 million to the project, and the VanVleet Foundation donated $70,000 to cover costs for a state-of-the-art press box.

Clarence Hicks Sports Complex Phase 1 improvements include:

  • 400M 8-lane running track

  • Shot put ring, discus cage, javelin runway, long/triple jump pits

  • Full-size artificial turf field for soccer and football with Rockford Park District “Sun Singer” logo at mid-field and custom “Rockford” lettering in each end zone

  • Warm-up zone donated by the Chicago Bears

  • State-of-the-art Press Box thanks to The VanVleet Family Foundation

  • Bleacher seating to accommodate up to 1,000 home team spectators and 500 away team spectators

  • Drinking fountain and bottle filler

  • LED scoreboard

  • New parking lot with 64 parking stalls

Clarence Hicks Sports Complex will be open weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and weekends will vary based on special events. Rental opportunities are available.

For additional facility details, call 815-987-1699 or visit www.rockfordparkdistrict.org/chsc.

Chicago Bears Donate Turf for Clarence Hicks Sports Complex Warm-Up Zone

In 2023, the Chicago Bears donated turf (from the 40-year line to the 40-yard line) that had previously been used in the Walter Payton Center, the official indoor practice facility of the Chicago Bears. The turf includes the iconic symbol “C” and was part of the Chicago Bears' 38-acre training center for six years. It’s one of the most elite and high-quality artificial turf systems from Act Global’s brand. This special warm-up zone enables local youth athletes to train on a surface used by a variety of professional athletes. The Rockford Park District has added on-site signage to help youth learn more about Walter Payton, where the turf once stood, and to highlight the long-standing relationship the Rockford Park District has had with the Chicago Bears.

The Rockford Park District is incredibly grateful for all the support it has received over the years from the Chicago Bears, as it has helped grow interest in the game of football and positively impacted youth in our community. The Chicago Bears have also been instrumental in advancing girls' flag football for area high school and now middle school girls. A $50,000 check was presented to the Rockford Park District to start an inaugural league and offer opportunities for 6th-grade girls and 8th-grade girls.

Mike Costello