One of Rockford’s oldest neighborhoods gets improvements through city initiative

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Signal Hill, one of Rockford’s oldest neighborhoods, is receiving much-deserved improvements thanks to the city’s Livable Community Initiative.

“Signal Hill is about 100 years old. It’s one of the oldest areas in Rockford,” said resident Dorien Peterson. “This neighborhood very much deserves continued improvement, continued care.”

The program combines federal and local funding for improvements like additional housing, sidewalk repairs, access to transportation and community gardens.

“I believe that this initiative is truly going to be impactful. This initiative provides support for neighborhoods,” said Alderman Tamir Bell. “The tipping point, right from being a good neighborhood to being a great neighborhood. And I believe that all neighborhoods in the city of Rockford should one day be great.”

The Keith Creek neighborhood was the first one selected to be updated through the program in May. Now, the Region One Planning Council is accepting applications for the second round of neighborhood help.

Bell is in full support of Signal Hills receiving improvements.

” I’m super excited to partner with the neighborhood association and the neighbors in Signal Hill to see if this is a project that they’d like to move forward on,” Bell continued. “Region One Planning Council is focused on neighborhoods like Signal Hill, which have so much potential but just need a little bit more support.”

Tim Verbeke, with the initiative program, said the program has already received $100,000 in funding from local businesses and private donors in the area.

Peterson hopes to see her neighborhood beautified.

“I would love to see the sidewalks improved. We have a lot of trees in this neighborhood. The roots have pushed up an awful lot of sidewalks. So, that right there is a safety issue,” Peterson explained.

The next neighborhood to be improved will be announced in November.