By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The Rockford Park District will add security gates to several parks and facilities as part of a plan to increase safety by curtailing after-hours usage.
The district’s board of commissioners on Tuesday voted to approve a $133,750 contract with Dach Fence Co. for 10 gates. They’ll be at Aldeen Park, Alpine Park north and south entrances, Alpine Park tennis courts, Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens north parking lot, Olson Heritage Park, Rockford Arboretum, Sinnissippi Park north and south entrances and Twin Sister Hills Park.
The city of Rockford provided $50,000 to help cover installation costs.
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The locations were selected based on trends in after-hours activity, and the Park District said it will allow police to proactively patrol more locations.
“When these locations are closed, they are being utilized for unauthorized and unwanted activities, some of which result in violence,” Rockford Park District Police Chief Theo Glover said in a news release. “Pop-up parties are having a community-wide impact, but local law enforcement agencies are working together to deter these after-hours activities, which requires a lot of manpower and resources.”
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In July 2022, two men were killed and two others were injured in a shooting around 4:30 a.m. in Sinnissippi Park. The district said it happened at a “pop-up” party after the park was closed.
The district said the gates have already helped mitigate after-hours use at Twin Sister Hills Park, and Park District police have been clearing Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens campus parking lots and using barricades to prevent after-hours usage.
The Park District said it has also utilized additional surveillance cameras and license-plate readers. The total investment in additional safety and security measures is roughly $435,000, according to the Park District.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas