The Save Riverview Ice House Coalition is pleased to announce that Riverview Ice House has, indeed, been saved.

The Rockford Park District last night announced the facility will be fully renovated and remain open at its longtime location at 324 N Madison Street in downtown Rockford. Replacement of the rink's aging mechanical systems (circa 1976) is expected to proceed this summer with comprehensive building renovation to follow shortly thereafter.

Save Riverview Ice House is pleased that the Rockford Park District staff and board has chosen to hit pause and reconsider ways, alongside our group and other ice facilities user, to save this important downtown treasure…

Save Riverview Ice House Leaders Thank Rockford Park District Officials for Halting Plans to Close Facility, Now Partnering to Renovate and Enhance

Rockford, Illinois – A grassroots effort to keep the Riverview Ice House open in Rockford has brought some immediate success for the downtown facility.

My name is Jay Graham. I grew up in the Oak Park and Rockord Park Districts. My Dad, Bill Graham, worked in both organizations. He was Director in Oak Park when Webbs Norman recruited him to the Rockford Park District to, among many other things, supervise design and construction of Riverview Ice House.

“…I stand willing and able to work on a task force with you and other community leaders to ensure that we can invest in our parks and continue to be a leader in youth sports and sports tourism. Together we can develop creative options to keep our much-needed major facilities open and enhance our parks and youth programming at the same time.”

By Larry Morrissey, former Mayor of Rockford

I’m sharing comments I made recently to the Rockford Park District at their October 13, 2020 Board Meeting... I speak tonight in favor of saving the Riverview Ice House and Downtown Sports Tourism. I am a former mayor, a Dad and husband, a West Side resident and a Park District taxpayer.

by Jeff Fahrenwald

I was one of the members of the Rockford Park District Operations Advisory Committee that had input into the in-depth study of RPD. At the time, I thought there was a thorough process for gaining community input and for coming up with the priorities for the District. After recently reviewing the process, which you can find the details of on the RPD Foundation website – I now believe our process was flawed and those flaws end up reflecting in the recommendations being considered by the Park District Commissioners.