Pool closure leaves hole at Lawrence Park

STERLING – The pool used to be a center of activity at Lawrence Park.

Since the pool’s closure nearly 2 years ago, the park hasn’t been the same. The Sterling Park District hopes to breathe new life into the riverfront grounds.

The boat launch still is used regularly and people still come to watch birds, but there is potential for more development at the park, said Director of Parks and Planning Doug Jacobs.

A first priority, he said, is to fill the pool shells and cover the area with grass seed.

“That would clean up the abandoned look,” Jacobs said.

He also would like to see the main pool building be put back to some use. He isn’t sure how the other three buildings could be reused or recycled.

Meanwhile, Lawrence Park, on the Avenue G island, remains in the city of Sterling’s riverfront redevelopment plans.

City Manager Scott Shumard said he envisions a pedestrian connection to Lawrence Park.

“We would like to relocate the boat launch into deeper water and leave the western half as a pedestrian-type facility,” he said.

This would keep cars from driving through the whole area, he said.

The riverfront plan calls for connecting the west end of the property to the east end of Lawrence Park.

“I’ve seen other places [with] pedestrian connections to islands,” he said. “It’s a neat place where people can go and not worry about vehicular traffic.”

Shumard said the park is now underutilized because it is not set up to be pedestrian friendly.

“There are multiple competing uses. Kind of jack of all trades, master of none,” he said.

Jacobs would like to see Lawrence Park become an even bigger part of the riverfront plans. The park’s prime location between Sterling and Rock Falls can be an asset, he said.

“Once upon a time, Sterling and Rock Falls shared Lawrence Park,” he said. “It used to be more people from Rock Falls that actually came than from Sterling.”

Jacobs said the Rock Falls High School marching band uses the park now. He said the two communities can work cooperatively to make the park an asset in both towns.

“You have to pull together in the same direction or you don’t get anywhere.”

For more information

For more information on Lawrence Park and other facilities in the Sterling Park District, go to sterlingparks.org or call 815-622-6200.