ROCKFORD, IL — With Davis Park still undergoing a massive estimated $15.5 million reconstruction, it won’t be the center of this year’s IRONMAN 70.3 Rockford.
The event returns to Rockford for a second time June 14. It comes after the first Rockford IRONMAN last year was hailed as a success with a smooth race and some great memories of Sprinkler Alley. It was a sellout, too, with 2,700 registered athletes, 1,500 community volunteers and an estimated 7,600 out-of-market spectators.
The IRONMAN 70.3 consists of a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike race and a half-marathon of 13.1-miles. In Rockford, much of the activity was anchored along the Rock River just south of Chestnut Street in Davis Park.
New multiuse paths should be done in time for the race and landscaping is mostly complete, but the expansive open lawn of Davis Park won’t be ready for foot traffic. The park will remain closed during IRONMAN 70.3 Rockford 2026, GoRockford CEO John Groh said.
“What you saw last year is not going to be happening this year. So what you saw last year was the transition, the bikes were in Davis and Ironman Village, all the tents, all the merchandise, that was all in Davis Park,” Groh said. “None of that’s happening in Davis this year.”
Organizers are shifting the focus of activity from Davis Park to a wider area of downtown Rockford. Although racers will run through part of Davis Park during the half marathon, spectators won’t be allowed in the area.
Athlete Village: Tents, merchandise vendors and athlete announcements will take place in Rockford Parking Lot 9 just outside Rockford Park District Headquarters, 401 S. Main St.
Starting Line: The race will again start with swimmers entering the Rock River near the iconic Rock Guardians and they will get out of the water near the E. J. Zeke Giorgi Center, 200 S. Wyman St.
Transition: Instead of transitioning to bikes in Davis Park, racers will peel off their wetsuits in an area south of the Giorgi building and transition to their bicycles in a two-block on-street area that includes the intersection of Elm and South Wyman streets.
Davis Park is undergoing a transformation from a festival grounds to become more of an active community park.
The new Davis Park will feature a covered stage, permanent concession stands, restrooms, great lawn, multiuse path, public art displays, a 6,000-square-foot playground and a skatepark.
City leaders had hoped to have the park’s makeover completed by May 22, but weather and underground utility discoveries caused delays. The playground, skatepark, landscaping and paths should be done before the race returns, but the buildings won’t be complete until September, City Engineer Timothy Hinkens said.
The grass should be planted in May, Hinkens said, but it will need time to take root and grow before people can walk on it.
Jeff Kolkey writes about government, economic development and other issues for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on X @jeffkolkey.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Big changes are coming with the return of IRONMAN 70.3 Rockford
Reporting by Jeff Kolkey, Rockford Register Star / Rockford Register Star
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