ROCKFORD – Local residents are able to enjoy a spray pad at Doty Park thanks to a $75,000 park district grant secured by State Representative Joe Sosnowski (R-Rockford) through the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (IDCEO). The check was received by the Belvidere Park District this week. The project was completed this spring and opened to the public on June 2.Belvidere Park District Executive Director Dan Roddewig noted the importance of the project to the community:
“The IDCEO grant funds through Representatives Joe Sosnowski’s Office were used by the Belvidere Township Park District to construct a Spray Pad in Doty Park,” Roddewig said. “The facility opened on June 2, 2016, to over 200 people at the time the sprinklers were first turned on. The Spray Pad was successful at drawing young families to an underutilized park and offered a cool spot for grandparents to take their grandkids for a new experience. There is no charge to use the Spray Pad and it made Doty Park a destination in downtown Belvidere to thousands of people in 2016. During these difficult economic times it is extremely important to park districts to offer quality activities close to home at an affordable cost or free and thanks to Representative Sosnowski the Belvidere Township Park District has been able to do just that.”
“The staff, programs, and facilities of the Belvidere Park District serve our community exceptionally well,” Representative Sosnowski added. “I would like to thank the park district for everything they do, particularly for putting this state grant funding to good use for the benefit of local families.”
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