The Rockford Park District is working towards an improvement plan for its aging playgrounds in the community.

For months the Rockford Park District has been seeking input from the community on what its wants and needs are top priority. One common item that was brought to the District’s attention was improvements to the playgrounds and parks in the community.

"For the next few months as the Park District is preparing a master plan for the next three to five years the foundation will then follow up with our own plan to do whatever fund-raising needs to be done for those playgrounds," Rockford Park District Foundation Director, Lori Berkes-Nelson.

The Park District has a total of 84 playgrounds and 64 of those are beyond their 15 year old life-span.

"That doesn’t mean they are unsafe but we have expectations and we would like to get onto a plan of replacing them," Berkes-Nelson said.

Those improvements that have been made back in 2017 to some area parks, like Harmon Park, have made an impact on kids and families in the area.

"They grow up, they meet a lot of new friends and they all get along good," Grandmother, Edna Wick said.

Wick has three grandchildren who she brings to Harmon Park every day over the summer.

"They just play, there’s a lot of room, a lot of new friends and they all get along good," Wick said.

However, not all 64 aging parks are able to reap the benefits like the one the Wick family uses because replacing or repairing a playground comes with a heft price tag of $250,000, which is one of the main issues for the Park District in upgrading the park facilities.

The Park District says once they announce its five year improvement plan on August, 21. The Foundation committee will continue work to narrow down it’s top priority playgrounds and then turn to the community for help, and apply for grants.

For a full list of all 82 Park District Parks, click HERE.