COMING SOON: Rock Island
What’s going in here? What’s happening over there? You ask - We find out!
What’s going in here? What’s happening over there? These are questions we all ask as we drive around town and Coming Soon Segment is about answering those questions.
New YWCA Center Downtown Rock Island
Construction is underway on a new facility for the YWCA Quad Cities. It is being built at the corner of 5th Avenue and 17th Street, where the Zimmerman Honda used to be years ago. The facility is expected to be 54,250 square feet - compared to the size of its current space, which is 24,000 square feet.
"The new facility will allow the YWCA to just about double our child care capacity," said Julie Larson, President and CEO of YWCA Quad Cities. "It will feature a large family aquatic center, weight & cardio room, gym, dedicated STEAM Lab, an Empowerment Center and second floor playground."
When asked what features she is most excited about, she responded:
"We are so excited just to have a new facility that won't require weekly heat, A/C, plumbing, etc. repairs. We are also excited to expand our programming and meet the needs of families in our community. My favorite feature is our family aquatic center, which will feature a zero depth area, water slide and activities for the entire family versus our current lap pool. Since we live in a community surrounded by water, it's important that all youth are given opportunities to learn to swim, and thus swim lessons will be a big initiative in the new facility."
Larson said construction is expected to take approximately 14 months to complete and the plan is to move into the new center by late July 2023.
To see what it will look like, click the video below.
Video Aired on May 19th, 2022:
Botanical Center Ability Garden Downtown Rock Island
The Quad City Botanical Center is building an Ability Garden. The entire garden is being custom-built with mobility and other accessibility features in mind. For example, neutral color stone and softer stone material. Plants will also be sensory-friendly and planted in elevated garden beds with the help of The Handicapped Development Center and Hand in Hand.
Construction is expected to take about 8 weeks, so the Ability Garden should be open in late summer 2022 or early fall 2022. It will also be free to visit, since it's located outside the garden gates.
To see the concept plan, click the video below.
Video Aired on May 19th, 2022:
Golf Course Transformation Highland Springs
Rock Island and First Tee Quad Cities are partnership up to build a new clubhouse at Highland Springs Golf Course, which will include a classroom for First Tee participants.
First Tee a youth golf organization for kids ages 7-18 years old. Its mission is to "enable kids to build the strength of character by seamlessly integrating the game of golf with their life skills curriculum." For more information, click here.
First Tee is not new to Highland Springs. In 2018, they opened a new driving range and short course for kids learning the game of golf.
Video Aired on March 10th, 2022:
Refined Fit Lab Downtown
Refined Fit Lab, 313 20th Street, is a fully-equipped personal training studio. They're going to offer one-on-one training sessions, couples training, group classes, and wellness workshops. They'll also have snacks and beverages for anyone wanting to stop in for a quick - and healthy - pick me up. Refined Fit Lab is hoping to be up and running by December 1st, 2021.
Video Aired on November 4th, 2021:
American Bank & Trust Downtown
American Bank & Trust, 1600 5th Avenue, is expected to hold an official grand opening sometime in November 2021. The drive-up windows are already open, though.
Video Aired on November 4th, 2021:
2nd Avenue Proposals Downtown
In October 2021, Downtown Rock Island Director Jack Cullen presented a proposal to the Rock Island City Council to bring new life and a new look to the area. One of the ideas is Arts Alley. This project includes painting crosswalks, showcasing artist murals, creating a backdrop of performances, and more:
Another idea is updating the Great River Plaza, which is the pedestrian mall about one block away from Arts Alley on 2nd Avenue. Cullen says the city and property owners are putting together designs to modernize this area as well.
To make these two ideas a reality - and complete other projects downtown - a new group is being proposed. It's called a "place management organization" and it's similar to the Downtown Davenport Partnership or Moline Centre. This group would provide special services such as business attraction and retention, routine beautification, destination marketing, and enhanced public safety in Downtown Rock Island.
Video Aired on November 4th, 2021:
Blue Cat Returns Downtown
Blue Cat Brew Pub is making a comeback to the District of Rock Island. Four years ago, it was sold and rebranded as Big Swing Brewing. Now, well-known Quad Cities Brewer Charlie Cole has joined the owners to resurrect the classic award-winning Blue Cat beer recipes and add some of his own creations to the menu.
Blue Cat reopens Friday, November 5th.
Video Aired on October 28th, 2021:
Atomic Coffee Bar Expanding Blackhawk Road
Atomic Coffee Bar is going into the old Checkers on Blackhawk Road, according to Rock Island Mayor Mike Thoms. This will be Atomic's first Illinois location. It first opened off North Brady Street in Davenport nearly six years ago. No word yet on when renovations will be complete.
Video Aired on October 14th, 2021:
Farmers' Market Opening Schwiebert Riverfront Park
The QC Farmers' Market is opening a physical market after being online since it "opened" in May 2020. It will be located in the west parking lot of Schwiebert Riverfront Park in Rock Island, where its Tuesday online pickup is already.
The new concept starts Saturday, August 7th, 2021 and is open from 8am until Noon.
Video Aired on August 4th, 2021:
Do you have a development you want us to look into? Send an email to news@wqad.com with "Coming Soon" in the subject line.
