Rockford parks may add fishing program

ROCKFORD — The Rockford Park District might add a learn-to-fish program for children next summer.

Jay Sandine, the district’s deputy director of operations, said the idea would be discussed during 2010 planning meetings in October.

The summer program would culminate with a Fish Fest, similar to the one held last month at Levings Lake that drew 200 kids.

The program would be run with assistance from Department of Natural Resources staff and area fishing groups.

“We’ll see how it fits in the budget,” Sandine said. “We would start small and build on it.”

He said the idea came from his childhood when he watched his father, Jim Sandine, run youth fishing programs as the Shabbona Lake State Park site superintendent.