Rock Island Parks and Recreation is bringing some Christmas cheer with many ways to have fun this holiday season. 

Would your little one like a letter from Santa? Let Santa tell your children they’ve been good, but need to clean their room more. Have Santa compliment good grades or an accomplishment!  Registration fee is $5. Call (309) 732-7275 or register online at www.rigov.org/ePark to register and fill out a form with info about your child. Deadline to register is December 11th. 

You’ve Been GRINCHED!  Be as cuddly as a cactus and as charming as an eel this holiday season and treat your friends or family to a Grinchy surprise. Parks staff will deliver and place signage and twenty “rotten eggs” in their yard. After 24 hours Parks staff will remove the signs.  They will also receive a note telling them who Grinched them. This program costs $20 and is a fundraiser to support youth programs. We will be Grinching people from December 15^thto December 23^rd. Call (309) 732-7275 or register online at www.rigov.org/ePark.

The Parks department has made arrangements with Santa Claus to be available Saturday, December 11^th through Christmas Eve, December 24^th for home visits and group get-togethers. In order to defray Santa’s travel expenses, a fee of $50 will be charged for home visits with fees for larger groups varying on size of group and length of visit. Reservations will be taken through December 10^th by calling (309) 732-PARK (7275). Christmas Eve reservations are for Rock Island residents only. 

Join Rock Island Parks & Recreation Foundation for a Wine & Dine on Thursday, December 2^nd at 6:30 pm. Taste several Sparkling and Red Holiday Wines just in time for the holiday season. A special dinner will be provided by Riverfront Grille. Fee is $65 and you can pay at the door, but call (309) 788-5635 to make a reservation before November 29th to reserve your spot. Support for the Parks Foundation helps support financial assistance for youth program scholarships and improvements to the Rock Island Parks system.  

As you are pondering what to buy your loved ones, don’t forget that we have holiday gift cards available! We have many special interest, sports, and fitness classes. Sometimes the gift of an experience lasts much longer than a present opened and forgotten. Maybe they would like to play some rounds at Highland Springs or Saukie Golf Course, splash down a slide at Whitewater Junction next summer, or get in a workout at the Rock Island Fitness and Activity Center! Golf balls are also be for sale in our Park Office. Visit the Rock Island Fitness & Activity Center: 4303 24^th Street, Rock Island. Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, Fridays from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and Saturdays from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Call (309) 732-7275 for more information.