Loves Park welcomes new park at site of former Hines Lumber Company

The new playground at the new park at 5101 Louisa St., Loves Park. (Photo provided)

Online Staff Report

A dedication ceremony June 7 symbolized the transformation that took place over the last year at a park located at 5101 Louisa St., Loves Park.

The Rockford Park District, City of Loves Park, and the Rockford Boys & Girls Club Carlson Baseball Complex worked together to make the site a great place to play.

The Loves Park playground project meant redeveloping a brownfield site that was once the former Hines Lumber Company property. The property is now a community park with amenities including the following:

• Youth softball/baseball diamond

• Basketball court

• Playground

• Six pickleball courts

• Two grass volleyball courts

• Parking lot with bioretention

• Bubbler

The new park feature six pickleball courts. (Photo provided)

The expansion of the park was made possibly by Hines Lumber Company, Woodward Inc., and the Rockford Park District Foundation.

Funding for the Loves Park playground development came from an Illinois Department of Natural Resources Open Lands Acquisition and Development grant, and $100,000 of additional state funding was secured and allocated to the project by State Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford.

Posted June 8, 2012