Rockford Park District receives $600,000 state grant to invest in Alpine Park; Includes ‘Paulyground,’ an inclusive playground originally built in 2003

SUBMITTED PHOTO The Journal
State funding announced last week will help renovate and improve recreational amenities at Alpine Park, 950 S. Alpine Road, Rockford.

State funding announced last week will help renovate and improve recreational amenities at Alpine Park, 950 S. Alpine Road, Rockford. The Rockford Park District received a $600,000 Open Space Land Acquisition and Development, or OSLAD, grant which is administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Alpine Park is a heavily utilized 72-acre park that is a popular destination for children of all ages and abilities. Within Alpine Park is “Paulyground” or Mike Pauly Memorial Playground named in honor of Mike Pauly who died in an accident in 2007.

Pauly was a landscape architect for the Rockford Park District for many years and led the construction of the Park District’s first inclusive designed playground at Alpine Park, which was built in 2003. “Paulyground” has been at the top of the Park District’s playground replacement plan as the 21-year-old playground is past its useful lifecycle but serves as a very popular, accessible, and inclusive outdoor destination.

Renovations will include replacing playground equipment, unitary playground surfacing emphasizing universal design elements, and inclusive play features. “Playground improvements will ensure that this location will continue to provide interactive opportunities for children of all abilities to learn and play together in the outdoors,” said Tom Lind, Project Manager.

Additional Alpine Park improvements include:

• ADA accessibility improvements to existing restrooms

• Enhancing the existing picnic shelters by adding game courts or bag toss

• Creating new accessible pathways

• Improved pedestrian safety measures

• New outdoor exercise equipment

• Stormwater drainage improvements

Initial design plans were developed for the grant application thanks to an online survey and an advisory group which included Therapeutic Recreation department team members, parents of children with disability related needs, and community partners.

Additional community engagement will take place before design plans are finalized and a construction timeline is established.

Overall investment in Alpine Park will be roughly $1.36 million. Investing in this park and enhancing amenities will help meet the needs of this and succeeding generations.