Party for the Park today

The "Party in the Park", a fundraising event designed to publicize and attract support for renovations at Moline's Browning Park will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, and the weather promises to be great.

Browning Park (or Brownie Park, as I've heard more than one young child call it) is located just behind Whitey's Ice Cream on 16th Street, just north of Avenue of the Cities (23rd Ave.)

Planned is a $365,500 makeover for the park. Plans include removing the sidewalk along 16th street and altering it to lead into the park, errecting a flagpole, a volleyball court, a sitting plaza, and a rain garden for water drainage. Phase two of the project would include construction of separate elementary and pre-school play areas.

As is usually the case for any project involving the city of Moline, the Shive Hatterly firm got the design contract.

The Moline Park and Recreation Board wants to upgrade the park to make it user-friendly for families and visitors.

The board is working with the Veile Wheelock Neighborhood Group (which helps maintain the park), the Browning Park Revitalization Committee, and several individuals and local businesses on the project, said Milt Hand, Moline Parks and Recreation Department director.
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A major fundraising campaign starts today and will run through the end of the year, Mrs. Millman said. So far, the project has received a $15,000 grant from the Moline Foundation and the city has obligated $50,000 from its capital improvement fund, Mr. Hand said. The Moline Park and Recreation Board will head the campaign, apply for grants and search for support from local businesses, individuals and the community, Mr. Hand said.

(Isn't he a character on "Southpark"?)

Visitors can also walk around the track at Browning Field and enter their name and the number of laps they walked into a drawing for prizes. If the total number of laps reaches to 500, a park and recreation board member will donate $500 toward the renovations, Mrs. [Ann] Millman [Moline Park Board member] said.

Activities offered at today's event include face painting, an appearance by the Quad City Mallards mascot Mo Mallard, free trolley rides from MetroLink, a moonwalk, carnival games, prizes, music and a magician. Food will also be for sale.

Browning park is, as people noted in the article, probably the most seen and least visited park in the area. It's certainly worth preserving and improving, and you can lend your support while having a good time.