Reservations
Shelter & Picnic Areas
The Rockford Park District offers the perfect location for your special occasion. Our shelters are ideal for family barbecues, birthday parties, baby showers, and much more. We can accommodate groups of any size, ranging from 30 to 200+ people.
While you may picnic at any of our parks for free, we strongly recommend making a reservation to guarantee that a specific location is prepared and ready for you from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on your selected day. The operational season for our shelters runs from April 15 to October 15.
Shelters are available on a first-come, first-served basis unless reserved. Reservations can be made online, by phone, or in person. Only one booking per day is allowed per event unless approved as a special event. Full refunds are available up to seven (7) days before the reservation date.
Reservation Details
Reservations can be made up to 365 days in advance during the shelter season.
Reservations are not accepted from October 15 through the first Monday in February due to annual updates and maintenance.
We do not guarantee water at our shelters before April 15 or after October 15 due to the possibility of freezing.
Reservations must be made at least seven (7) days in advance.
Make reservations online at the links below, or by calling Rockford Park District Customer Service at 815-987-8800.
Per Rockford Park District ordinances, some types of events or gatherings may fall under a special event and require a Special Use Permit.
General Rules & Regulations
✅ Dogs are allowed at our parks but must be always leashed and cleaned up after.
✅ Print shelter reservation receipt and bring with you.
✅ Restrooms & playgrounds are open to the public.
❌ Knives, firearms, or other weapons of any kind, as well as fireworks or other explosives, are not permitted.
Pursuant to 430 ILCS 66/65 and RPD Ordinance 9.10
❌ Smoking is not permitted in in parks and facilities.
RPD Clean Air Ordinance 9.18
❌ No parking in posted areas.
❌ Carry-in alcoholic beverages are prohibited in parks and facilities.
RPD Ordinance 10.4
To report an emergency, call 911. To report vandalism or a non-emergency related matter, please call (815) 966-2900.
Bounce Houses
The Rockford Park District has a list of authorized vendors for bounce houses. Customers are responsible for contacting these vendors to reserve the bounce house and pay any rental fees. Only authorized vendors with current Certificates of Insurance (COIs) on file may be used.
Blondin's Bouncin' Inflatables: 815-624-0046
Chocos Bounce House Rentals: 815-299-3001
The Play House: 224-789-0366
Bounce houses do not require a Special Use Permit, but an additional fee will apply to your reservation with the Rockford Park District. Water bounce houses are not permitted.
Special Event Application
For any person wishing to use Rockford Park District property for purposes other than a picnic, for requests that exceed shelter capacity, for amplification or use of speakers for speech or music, for live entertainment, or for equipment items brought onto the property, a Special Event Permit is required.
The Rockford Park District offers two primary options for hosting events: Special Use Permits (SUPs) and Licensing Agreements (LAs). The type of permit you need depends on the size, scope, and risk level of your event.
SUPs are best for smaller, low- to moderate-risk events with minimal modifications. Upgrade your shelter rental to include a Special Use Permit.
Licensing Agreements are required for large, high-impact, or extended-use events.
Consider your event’s size, duration, and requirements carefully to select the appropriate permit and ensure all applications and documentation are submitted on time.
Requests can be submitted after January 2 of the year in which the event will take place. All requests are taken on a first-come, first-served basis.
NOTE: Bounce houses do not require a Special Use Permit. Standard fees do apply.