Update on Funding for Needed Recreational Amenities at Clarence Hicks Memorial Sports Park
ROCKFORD, IL – Clarence Hicks Memorial Sports Park is a destination utilized by thousands of youth, teens, and families. The park is home to youth sports programs, including NFL Flag Football, NFL Cheer, Rockford F.I.R.E. Track & Field, Youth Sports Outreach, USA Football and Chicago Bears Outreach Camp, AAU Northern Cross Country National Championship, and AAU Cross County District Qualifier. Over the years, the Rockford Park District has made improvements to the 77-acre park, including new scoreboards, signs, fencing, bleachers, turf playground surface, an asphalt path, and a large shade structure with a concrete pad.
The Rockford Park District’s Strategic Action Plan includes the recommendation to increase investments at Clarence Hicks Memorial Sports Park due to the continued growth of these sports programs. An initial master plan for the park has already been established, and includes a new stadium, new track, park shelter improvements, a new building, flag football fields, multi-use fields, additional parking, lighting, entryway, and infrastructure improvements.
Currently, a new access road is being built off Ogilby Road and will improve the traffic flow at this popular park. This two-lane road will eliminate the need for current access to the park through the RESA school entrance. Recently, the Chicago Bears donated turf that was once in the Walter Payton Center (WPC) at Halas Hall to create a future warmup area at Clarence Hicks Memorial Sports Park. Youth, teens, residents, and families will one day be able to step onto the same turf where some of the greatest athletes also practiced. As additional funding is secured, the Chicago Bears turf donation will be part of larger future improvements made at the park. More than $4 million is needed to make all needed enhancements to Clarence Hicks Memorial Sports Park.
Today, Illinois Senator Steve Stadelman toured the park as the Rockford Park District’s Youth Sports team kicked off the summer season for NFL Flag Football and NFL Cheer. Senator Stadelman announced that he was able to secure $600,000 in state funding for Clarence Hicks Memorial Sports Park improvements. "I place a high value on the role athletics can play in the development of our youth, and I salute the Rockford Park District for its investment in Rockford's southwest side. Every family, regardless of zip code, needs and deserves quality public sports and recreation facilities,” said Illinois State Senator Steve Stadelman.
“Senator Stadelman is a park champion. He’s helped secure state funding to re-open Sand Park Pool, renovate Riverview Ice House, and is now taking action to make sure that area youth and teens have new and improved recreational opportunities in southwest Rockford. Investing in Clarence Hicks Memorial Sports Park will allow football, soccer, and lacrosse, along with track and field programming, to take place at one location uniting youth, teens, and families with their common love of play. It will also allow the Rockford Park District to host additional amateur athletic tournaments, competitions, meets, and leagues,” said Rockford Park District Executive Director Jay Sandine.
The Park District has recently applied for a Park and Recreational Facility Act (PARC) grant through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) for $2.8 million. The Rockford Park District Foundation is also be helping to fundraise for this $4 million project.
