Wantz Park in Loves Park is one of five Rockford Park District neighborhood parks with holiday displays. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A handful of neighborhood parks got a bit brighter on Wednesday as the Rockford Park District turned on holiday displays.

The Making Parks Bright initiative is meant to “bring a little extra holiday spirit into our neighborhood parks,” said Laura Gibbs-Green, the district’s communications manager.

The displays are on from dusk to dawn through Jan. 9 at these five parks:

  • Alpine Park, 950 S. Alpine Road, Rockford
  • Brown Park, 2010 N. Main St., Rockford
  • Sand Park, 1041 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park
  • Wantz Memorial Park, 602 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park
  • Washington Park Community Center, 3617 Delaware St., Rockford
Related: Festival of Lights kicks off holiday season in Rockford

Those are lit in additional to the massive All Aglow lighting display outside Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens in Sinnissippi Park.

Making Parks Bright is one of several components of the district’s Winter Flurry, a series of indoor and outdoor programs, activities and other initiatives meant to keep families active during cold-weather months.

“We want to bring joy, we want to bring something cool to do … to get us through this kind of gloomy winter season,” Gibbs-Green said.

Holiday lights were flipped on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021, at Wantz Park in Loves Park. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas.