Rockford Park District Foundation

Community the establishment of the perks family equine center marks a significant milestone in the history of the Rockford Park District, with the potential to become a cornerstone for the community's well-being. Through equine-assisted psychotherapy (eap) and equine-assisted learning (eal), this state-of-the-art facility aims to offer vital hope and healing to youth across the region. The Foundation's support also improved recreational areas like the newly revitalized oxford Park, renamed the john beck memorial playground in the edgewater neighborhood. Generous donations and grants extended by the Foundation bolstered various community events and initiatives such as music in the Park, city of gardens, snow sculpting, lockwood Park, and local golf courses. Additionally, individuals with disabilities were provided opportunities to engage in recreational activities through therapeutic recreation services, including buddy baseball, be social adult program, and jr. chariot's wheelchair basketball, with partial funding from the Foundation.

Memorialthe Foundation's efforts extended to honor the memories of loved ones through the celebrate life program, which involved the installation of four memorial benches, the planting of 18 trees, and the placement of more than 60 memorial bricks. Additionally, the eric larson ice hockey memorial scholarship was established to assist families requiring extra support to participate in youth hockey within the Rockford Park District.

Youth in 2023, the Foundation extended support to families facing financial constraints, enabling their children to engage in recreational activities, camps, and lessons through the "help me play" fee assistance initiative. Thanks to the Foundation's funding, youngsters had the opportunity to partake in various activities such as outdoor education, hockey teams, nfl flag football, track & field, and summer camps.