Recreation & Culture
Living in the I-88 West region means affordable community living with a combination of local arts, culture, recreation and sports activities and easy access to the major cultural and recreational opportunities in nearby Chicago and the Quad Cities.
From our award-winning parks system and outdoor activities like premier hiking along the Hennepin Canal, picnics in the Nature Conservancy’s Nachusa Grasslands, or the Farmer’s Market in Rock Falls to an array of sporting events and arts classes, I-88 West has a variety of recreation to fit your needs.
SPORTS FANS WELCOME HERE
The communities of Rock Falls and Sterling are home to winning teams--and play host to several nationally recognized tournaments. Soccer, football, basketball, softball, track, swimming--whatever your game, our park districts, schools, YMCA and YWCA and clubs have organized opportunities for adults and kids.
Check out the Sterling Park District, the Sterling-Rock Falls YMCA and the Coloma Township Park District for more information.
ARTS AND CULTURE HAVE A HOME HERE
Enjoy a twilight concert, take a sculpture class, learn an instrument... all these cultural experiences and more are literally around the corner at family-friendly prices.
Woodlawn Arts Academy offers 80+ arts programs for area residents, from visual and performing arts to music and literary pursuits.
The Sauk Valley Community Concert Association provides a wide variety of touring talent every year, with membership rates under $100 for a family. Not only does membership buy your family five or more concert events a year, you also enjoy the programming of other regional community concert associations.
From the Sterling Municipal Band’s summer concert series to concerts at the Veterans Memorial Park in Rock Falls, arts and culture have a home in the I-88 West Region.
GET AWAY FROM IT ALL--RIGHT HERE
Rock Falls is at the center of the Lower Rock River Basin recreation and tourism market. The Rock River, Hennepin Canal Greenway and surrounding regional parks and wildlife areas are some of the area’s most valuable recreational and scenic assets, with parks and natural areas lining the banks of the “Hudson of the Midwest”. Abundant fishing, pleasure boating, water skiing and other leisure activities present opportunities to get away from it all--in the middle of everything.
