Highland Park, Rockford

New playground equipment, a unique standing spinner, and a splash pad for hot days

Address: 3011 Rural Street, Rockford, IL

Description: Located in Rockford, near the Fairview and Rural intersection, Highland Park has two playgrounds – one for toddlers and one for bigger kids, two unique spinning features, multiple slides, a swing set, and a splash pad.

Best for ages: 2-12

Features:

• Two playgrounds – one for toddlers and one for bigger kids
• Large play structure for bigger kids with climbing wall, stair entrances, several slides, and a tube climb
• Medium play structure for toddlers with steps and climbing entrances
• Several climbing features – tubes, climbing wall, and metal bars
• Metal zipline
• Traffic light built-in toy on toddler playground
• Giraffe/animal built-in toy on bigger kid playground
• Stools and play counter underneath play structure
• Telescope at top of tower
• Spinning feature with rope/pole that kids can stand or sit in/on
• Spinning ball that kids can sit in
• Five slides (2 tall enclosed tube slides, 1 tall open slide, 2 toddler slides)
• Swing set with 2 normal sized, 2 baby swings, and 1 special needs swing
• Several benches, picnic tables, and stone wall in view of playground
• Grass area
• Nearby baseball field
• Nearby tennis courts
• Garbage cans

Sun protection: N, most of the playground is in full sun

Parking: Parking on street(s)

Playground structure materials: Metal, plastic

Ground/surface materials: Astroturf

Fenced in? N

Slides? Y, five slides

Swings? Y, five swings

Picnic tables, benches or other seating? Y, two benches, two stone/rock walls, and 7+ picnic tables in sight of playground

Walking path, sidewalk or bike path? Y, sidewalk around park

Stroller accessibility? Y

Bathrooms? Y, one Porta Potty near playground

Drinking fountain? Y

Food and drink nearby? N

What makes it special or worth visiting?

Highland Park is a very nice, recently renovated park with all new equipment. The park has two playgrounds, one that’s perfect for toddlers and another for bigger kids. There are also two unique spinning features – one where kids can stand or sit that spins quickly and one that kids can sit in that spins slowly. The splash pad has four sprayers that are activated by pushing buttons on either side of the pole. It’s great for cooling off on a hot day. There are numerous benches in view of the playground and two stone walls to sit on.

If you go, you may want to bring:

• Swimming suits and towels – There’s a splash pad next to the playground
• Sports equipment – tennis rackets and balls, baseball bats and balls – There are courts and fields in the park