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City Of Loves Park

100 Heart Boulevard
815-654-5030

History :

The City of Loves Park is located along the Rock River about 80 miles Northwest of Chicago , 15 miles South of the Wisconsin border and adjacent to the City of Rockford, Illinois. The City was named after Malcolm Love, a Rockford industrialist and civic leader, who in 1901 purchased a 236 acre tract of land along the Rock River located 3 miles North of Rockford. Love's property served as a gathering place for social events for several of Mr. Love's industrialist friends and eventually became known as Love's Park. In the early 1900's, with the expansion of the railroad through the area known as Love's Park, came residential and commercial development. This development has continued until present day through strong political leadership and economic planning.

In 1947, the City was incorporated and has continued to grow ever since. With a current population of 18,730 residents, the City of Loves Park is one of only two municipalities in the State of Illinois to not levy a municipal property tax. Through careful economic planning the City is able to provide all city services to it's residents through the collection of sales tax. The City of Loves Park has a vast variety of housing styles and a strong commercial and industrial base to provide it's residents with many employment and shopping activities. The City also has several recreational opportunities, such as boating and fishing on the Rock River, ice skating at the newly constructed Carlson Arctic Ice Arena, soccer at the Indoor Soccer Complex, organized sports at the Harlem Community Center and Nascar Winston Cup Racing at the Rockford Speedway. In addition, Loves Park is home to one of the largest state parks in Illinois, Rock Cut State Park. Rock Cut State Park consists of two lakes, Pierce Lake and Olson Lake, which provide camping, boating, fishing, hiking and swimming for visitors to the area.

If you would like to find out more information on the history of the City of Loves Park, author Craig G. Campbell was commissioned by the City to write History of Loves Park. This 172 page, hardcover book details the history of the City and the growth since it's incorporation in 1947. This book is available for free from the Loves Park City Clerk's Office while supplies last.