Your turn: Reality sometimes is better than what you wished for
The Rockford Register Star Editorial Board always was trying different ways to present the opinions that represented the newspaper.
In 2011 and 2012, the members of the board decided to put together wish lists of items that would move the community forward. The 2012 two-part opinion piece touted “Headlines we’d like to see.”
That was almost two years before Transform Rockford launched its public campaign to make the city a top 25 community by 2025.
Only four items on the wish list are addressed here. Others will be addressed in future articles.
Your turn: The first 100 days: Transform Rockford’s reboot
The wish: Ingersoll building renovation to sports complex complete.
The reality: The UW Health Sports Factory, a key piece in the Reclaiming First sports tourism project, opened in June of 2016. The facility is operated by the Rockford Park District and is one of the largest of its kind in the Midwest.
There have been all kinds of tournaments, leagues and events there. Basketball, volleyball, pickleball, dodgeball and table tennis are just a few examples of what has been done and can be done in the facility.
The facility draws visitors from all over the country for tournaments and events and also has many programs for local residents to enjoy.
The wish: Amerock, Tapco buildings come down; new development proceeds.
The reality: Being wrong never felt so right. Wisconsin-based Gorman & Co. developed the Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center, which opened in July of 2020.
Hotel guests come from all over the country, some of whom are in town for events at the nearby Sports Factory.
It’s also a must-see experience for locals. The Rooftop Bar & Grill is a great gathering spot for those who like to enjoy appetizers and cocktails while taking in a beautiful view of the city.
Members of the Editorial Board didn’t think the building would ever amount to much.
“Historic status won't stop the razing of the Amerock/Ziock building in downtown Rockford; it's just postponing it. The space occupied by Amerock and Tapco could be put to better use. Even empty space would be better than looking at these decaying buildings every day.“If the headline became ‘Developer begins refurbishing Amerock,’ great, but we've been disappointed so many times by developers with grand plans that we won't believe it until the doors open on whatever is created.”
The doors opened during the pandemic so the Editorial Board as a group never got the opportunity to eat their words.
The wish: Embry-Riddle chooses Rockford.
The reality: AAR opened up shop at Greater Rockford International Airport less than a decade ago.
AAR employs 350 aviation mechanics and expects that number to grow. AAR has a partnership with Rock Valley College to provide education and training for future mechanics. AAR has hired 45 students from RVC.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University was considering Rockford for its third campus in 2011 and 2012.
The Editorial Board wrote that “in the eyes of many economic development types, an Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University campus in Rockford would be a game changer."
AAR has had a great impact on the community and has contributed to the success of the airport. The term game-changer often is overused. AAR has been a welcome addition to the community.
The wish: Airport gains in cargo, passenger service.
The reality: Chicago Rockford International Airport is the 13th largest cargo airport in America. RFD had more than 3.4 billion pounds of landed weight in 2022 – a 25 percent increase, according to the FAA.
It’s the fourth straight year the airport has risen in the cargo ranks.
Passenger traffic increased by 18 percent in 2022, but is about 3 percent below pre-pandemic numbers. Allegiant Air offers nonstop flights to Las Vegas, Nevada; Phoenix, Arizona; and Orlando, Clearwater, Punta Gorda and Sarasota, Florida.
Airport officials are considering adding flights to Denver, Dallas and Nashville Austin, Texas and Asheville, North Carolina.
The four items mentioned above are wins for the community. Transform Rockford is working to focus its efforts for community improvement to put more items into the win column.
What would be on your wish list? What do you think the community priorities should be for 2024 and beyond? Send me an email and let me know.
Wally Haas is the former opinion editor of the Rockford Register Star and executive director of Transform Rockford. His email address is whaas@transformrockford.org.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Your turn: Reality sometimes is better than what you wished for
