Rock Island

Nestled between the Mississippi River and the Rock River, the city of Rock Island is a historical staple of the quad cities’ region in Western Illinois.<br><br>On the south side of Rock Island, the neighborhood of Blackhawk is a quiet residential area with local access to history, nature and community. Within the comfort of one’s own neighborhood, locals can check out spots like Black Hawk Forest, as well as restaurants along Rock River. Additionally, activities throughout Rock Island are easily accessible to locals.<br><br>Ranch homes and colonials are most common within Blackhawk’s housing market. Featuring picturesque lawns and lush tree cover, residents enjoy an affordable suburban feel, with the median listing price in Blackhawk being $122,400, with additional properties listed for below $100,000.<br><br>Students in the Blackhawk neighborhood benefit from some of Rock Island’s best public schools. For elementary education, both Earl H Hanson Elementary and Eugene Field Elementary receive some of the highest public school ratings in the area and are recognized in the state for allowing students to exceed expectations. Later, middle school students may attend either Washington Junior High School or Edison Junior High School, while Rock Island High School serves students towards the end of their standard education career.<br><br>Central to the neighborhood’s namesake, as well as Rock Island’s historical background is Black Hawk State Historic Site. Featuring a beautiful park with access to trails and photo opportunities, the site was the principal village of the indigenous Sauk nation and was known as one of the most heavily developed regions prior to United States expansion. Today, statues of historical figures, as well as walking trails through significant areas of the land offer visitors the opportunity to learn all about the region’s Native American history.<br><br>While Black Hawk Forest is popular for its expansive network of trails, residents in other areas of the neighborhood frequent parks such as Hodge Park and Longview Park, each providing their own outdoor green spaces, as well as pavilion spaces for residents to congregate as a community.<br><br>Restaurants are just around the corner in Blackhawk. Along Rock River on the neighborhood’s southern end, Riverfront Grille offers a highly rated spot complete with options for breakfast, lunch and dinner in an indoor/outdoor setting with a riverfront patio. Just down the street, Pizza & Subs is a popular Italian spot known for its unique collection of calzones and top-notch service. Additionally, Arthur’s Garden Delicatessen features subs, pastas and salads in an authentic deli setting.<br><br>For whenever you and your friends want to sharpen your skills at the golf course, Saukie Golf Course is available within minutes of the neighborhood. Enjoy a relaxing day on the course under the shade of the region’s thick deciduous trees and take in the bright green hues of the course.<br><br>Within the quiet community of Blackhawk, locals appreciate access to everyday suburban amenities right alongside the Rock River.

Just south of a bend in the Mississippi River and Downtown Rock Island is the small community of Broadway. Named on the National Historic Register in 1998, the area features stately homes from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s. “Victorian charm. That’s why people buy there. It’s close to downtown and restaurants, but people really buy for the charm and personality of the houses,” says Eric Ryden, the managing broker/owner of Quad City Iowa Realty. “We get buyers from big cities who love the walkability, too.” The neighborhood is bordered by two parks as well as by 17th Street, one of Rock Island’s major roadways. It’s only 1 mile to UnityPoint Health, and getting there is easy, thanks to the numerous bus stops throughout the area. Neighbors regularly congregate on each other’s front porches, and the community gets together for activities like trivia nights and block parties. With its old-world charm, proximity to green spaces and walkability, Broadway is where history, nature, and community converge. “The history is important here. The ability to live in a home that’s over 100 years old is challenging, but it makes it all worthwhile when it’s brought back to life,” says Ryden. Historic homes tower over the streets of the gridded residential area. Homes lie close together atop compact lawns dotted with mature trees. Though most houses were built between 1890 and 1915, some of the oldest buildings in the area date all the way back to 1865. Home styles include Queen Annes, Italianate homes, Craftsman bungalows and Four Squares. Some homes need some TLC to reach their full potential, but the neighborhood is happy to lend a hand. The Broadway Historic District Association began the Great Unveiling Program, where artificial siding is taken off historic homes, and regular community events are held to help rehabilitate the buildings. “Neighbors get together every spring for the Great Unveiling,” says Diane Oestreich, resident and member of the Rock Island Preservation Society. “When the original siding is taken off, you find ornate shingles and the scars of what was once there.” Homes needing restoration tend to sell for between $20,000 and $80,000, while turn-key homes cost between $100,000 and $250,000. “The houses are much higher quality with the old construction. By preserving, you increase the value of the house,” Diane says. Proximity to downtown provides access to a host of dining options. The Quad City Pancake House occupies a former pharmacy building and serves classic American breakfast staples. The family-owned and operated eatery opened a decade ago and features recipes created by its award-winning chef and owner, Jose Zepeda. Another local favorite is Jim's Rib Haven, a family-owned barbeque joint that has served the community for over 30 years, For groceries, there's an Aldi just east of the neighborhood on 38th Street. The SouthPark Mall is about 5.5 miles southeast of Broadway and hosts department stores and specialty shops. The Broadway district is home to Hauberg Estate Park. It features flower gardens, a nature area and an outdoor ice-skating pond. The park’s Hauberg Civic Center has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places and hosts yearly events. Longview Park is over a century old and has a railroad-themed water park called Whitewater Junction Aquatic Center. There are two playgrounds, a disc golf course, sand volleyball courts and a sledding area. The Circa ‘21 Dinner Playhouse occupies the historic Fort Armstrong Theatre. Established in 1921 as a silent movie theater, the three-story Art Deco building features symbols of Illinois, such as corn, arrows and snakes, in its terra cotta and brick exterior. The Dinner Playhouse became a Historic Place on the National Register in 1978, one year after it was converted into a professional dinner theater. Rock Island-Milan School District No. 41 serves the residents of Broadway. Students can begin their education at Rock Island Center for Math & Science, which received a C-plus on Niche. Students can finish their education at Washington Junior High and Rock Island High School, both of which scored a B-minus. Washington Junior High offers Project Lead the Way electives for students interested in engineering careers, while Rock Island High features extracurriculars like debate, student council and various sports teams while also offering college prep and vocational curriculums. This walkable community also offers public transportation through Metrolink, which serves several bus stops along 17th Street and 9th Avenue. For long-distance travel, Broadway is about 7.5 miles northwest of Quad Cities International Airport.

Central Rock Island, located just across the Mississippi River from the Iowa state line, is an established community with access to urban and outdoor amenities. A historic city with modern revitalization efforts, Rock Island fosters community engagement through numerous annual events and the creation of gathering spaces for residents. “Rock Island has a lot of history,” says Mayor Mike Thoms, who is a lifelong resident of Rock Island. “It’s the oldest Quad City – an old river town that used to have a prominent logging industry. Now, it’s an established community, with a lot of long-termers and new residents coming in.” “It’s hilly and a beautiful area. There are ravines and big ol’ oak trees,” Mayor Thoms says. “You’re not living on top of your neighbor – it’s not like you can open your curtains and see what your neighbor is doing. Things are a little more spread out.” Homes in Rock Island sit on sloping streets with an irregular grid pattern. While lots are small and somewhat uniform, no two homes look alike. Some homes have driveways, others have cars parked in front of them, and mature trees overlook sidewalks. Buyers can find a four-bedroom bungalow, ranch-style or Cape Cod property in the $120,000 to $140,000 range. In the $150,000 to $200,000 range, they can expect two-story bungalows, Colonial Revival and split-level homes. Those wanting a home with newly renovated interiors can find a property in a similar style for $200,000 to $300,000. There are also condo options available, and they span $100,000 to $300,000, depending on the property’s size, condition and age. Students are zoned for Rock Island School District No. 41 and can attend Eugene Field Elementary School, which earns a B from Niche. Then, they can attend Edison Jr. High School, which gets a C-plus from Niche, before Rock Island High School, which receives a B-minus. Rock Island High School – or “Rocky” as locals call it – offers nine Advanced Placement (AP) classes and nearly 30 Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses. While there aren’t any parks in the neighborhood, residents can get active at the Rock Island YMCA on 30th Street. Opened in March of 2023, the building has state-of-the-art fitness equipment and facilities. Just outside of Central Rock Island sit Longview Park and Hauberg Estate Park. At the former, families can walk through the open-air greenhouse and flower gardens before taking the kids to run around the playground. Locals can wander sloping walking paths to the swimming pool and tennis or volleyball courts while taking in scenic views of the surrounding greenery. A few blocks over is Hauberg Estate Park. As the name suggests, it features a historic Prairie-style mansion that can be rented for events or booked for tours. There’s also a playground, baseball fields and family-friendly events throughout the year at the park. Residents grab breakfast in the morning from Wholly Grinds on 11th Street. In addition to coffee, the restaurant is known for its waffles and waffle sandwiches. For dinner, Alfano's Pizza is a neighborhood go-to. Locals say that the family-owned pizza parlor gives spots in Chicago a run for their money. To eat at home, Hy-Vee Grocery Store on 18th Street is where residents pick up groceries and everyday essentials. And there’s more to come for the city of Rock Island. Mayor Thoms says the city is updating roads and the pedestrian mall about 2 miles north of the neighborhood. “We’re taking Downtown’s existing pedestrian mall and renovating it,” Thoms says. “The main thing we’re focusing on is creating curb-less streets and widening sidewalks. That way, in the evenings, you can block the street off, so people can walk around and go from one bar or restaurant to the next.” Rock Island residents gather throughout the year. In the summer, free live music, lawn chairs and blankets dominate the banks of Riverfront Park at Thursday Night Groove. In Lincoln Park, the Genesius Guild puts on classical theatre performances every summer weekend. A Labor Day Parade and St. Patrick’s Day Marathon with other Quad Cities also occur annually. But that’s not all. With Downtown Rock Island’s current revitalization, Mayor Thoms says that old community favorites, like the popular Ya Maka My Weekend Caribbean culture festival, will return around 2025 once construction is complete. Bus stops travel throughout the city of Rock Island, which is about 85 miles southeast of Cedar Rapids, 100 miles northwest of Peoria and 170 miles west of Chicago. U.S. Route 67 is the neighborhood’s main thoroughfare and leads across the Rock River to Milan. When it’s time to fly, the Quad Cities International Airport is about 7 miles southeast.

College Circle is just that, a residential area surrounding Augustana College. Less than two miles from downtown Rock Island, the neighborhood is largely made up of a variety of housing styles, though commercial districts border the community. Just across the river is Rock Island Arsenal, a major local employer and the nation's largest government-owned weapons builder. It’s also a historic landmark and museum, visible from the northern edge of the college campus, about two miles away. The compact College Circle neighborhood might not have many shops and restaurants, but local favorites such as Mulkey’s Restaurant and Radicle Effect Brewerks border the community. Mulkey’s, a family-owned and operated restaurant, has served home-cooked American comfort food for breakfast, lunch and dinner since 1955. Radicle Effect Brewerks, located on 31st Street, offers a variety of craft beers and ales. For groceries, there is a Hy-Vee Grocery Store half a mile south of the neighborhood. Handy True Value Hardware does business on 30th Street. Webber Park features a playground with a climbing rock wall, a basketball court, an arbor, picnic spots and hilly, wide-open spaces popular for sledding in the winter. Just across 38th Street, century-old Lincoln Park occupies over 20 acres and hosts the city’s annual Spring Egg Hunt. The picturesque spot has a wedding plaza, large and small shelters and a gazebo. Residents can use the baseball diamond, tennis, and pickleball courts before or after making lunch on one of the park’s charcoal grills. The arsenal, in operation since 1862, employs more than 6,000 people on its 900+ acres, a portion of which is devoted to a Veterans Administration cemetery. A charming mix of historic homes occupied by long-time residents and Augustana College students dot the streets of College Circle. Many of the traditional houses have been converted into duplexes or apartments, and the new College Hill subdivision has condos and some available single-family lots. Homes are generally set back from the street to allow for small landscaped front lawns. Sidewalks line some of the neighborhood's shaded streets. Rows of wooden cottages, bungalows, American Foursquare homes, and Colonial Revivals are most prevalent. Prices range from around $120,000 to $200,000 on average. Rock Island-Milan School District No. 41 serves the residents of College Circle. Students can begin their education at Longfellow Elementary, which earned a C from Niche. Students can continue their education at Washington Junior High School and Rock Island High School, both of which received a B-minus from the site. Rock Island High, called “Rocky” by locals, features both college prep and vocational curricula. The thoroughfare of 5th Avenue borders College Circle to the north, providing direct access to downtown Rock Island and downtown Moline. MetroLink provides public transportation to the neighborhood through several bus stops along 7th Avenue and 38th Street. Route 53 provides stops at Target, Hy-Vee Grocery Store and the district, while Route 10 connects with various routes through the District Station in downtown Rock Island and Centre Station in downtown Moline. Students are eligible for free public transportation through MetroLink bus service. For long-distance travel, the Quad Cities International Airport is about 7 miles south of the neighborhood. The neighborhood encircles Augustana College, which ranked No. 100 for the best liberal arts colleges in the nation by the US News and World Report in 2024.

Douglas Park, named for the historic ball field at its core, is one of the three neighborhoods that make up Rock Island’s West End. Historic bungalows line the streets and, "everyone knows each other,'' says Rebecca Arnold, resource development manager at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, adding, "The social capital is strong.'' Though Douglas Park struggled for lack of infrastructure in the past, which hampered development, the community today is dedicated to improving itself and has recently completed a major park renovation. “It’s why we do this work,” says Arnold. “We look at this neighborhood, and we see strength.” Douglas Park, laid out in a grid, stretches from Illinois Route 92 to 11th Street. Narrow sidewalks line the tree-shaded streets, while homes sit close together on tidy lots. Bungalows with pointed A-frame roofs are most common, while some single-story ranches and Four Squares are scattered throughout the neighborhood. Homes in need of renovation range from $10,000 to $50,000. Turn-key homes sell for $60,000 to $130,000. Both ranges reflect lower prices than the surrounding area, which typically sees homes sell for thousands more and a citywide median price of around $130,000. Douglas Park, the site of the first game in National Football League history, today features three fully equipped baseball diamonds and an adjacent playground with slides and climbing walls. The Parks and Recreation Department and Friends of Douglas Park, a non-profit organization, are working to redevelop and revitalize the park. Recent renovations include a new ball field, a new lighted playground, a new concession stand and scoreboard, a new parking lot, and the removal of exterior fencing to give the park a more open and communal feel. On 16th Avenue, Rauch Family Park offers a playground, a baseball field, a picnic area, and a hill popular for sledding in the winter. Alternatively, Franklin Field, on the corner of 9th Street and 12th Avenue, provides its own vast lawn space. Just north of Douglas Park is the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, which conducts after-school programs, a summer day camp and various events throughout the year with a focus on education and community-building. One of its main projects is the West End Revitalization initiative, based upon a community-informed assessment conducted in 2021. “We found this model called collective impact. It respects this idea that people don’t live their lives in silos. Complex problems require complex solutions,” says Arnold. This plan addresses five core categories: Community Engagement, Personal Assets and Income, Housing and Land, Community Economic Vitality and Infrastructure and Visual Appeal. “It's not what you do; it's how you do it. We did it in a way where the community, led by grassroots leadership, was really driving the bus. We have the trust of our community from the work we've done for the past 50 years. We don’t take that trust lightly.” Rock Island-Milan School District 41 serves the residents of Douglas Park. Students can begin their education at Frances Willard Elementary School, which received a C on Niche. Students can continue their education at Edison Junior High School, which scored a C-minus and finish their education at Rock Island High School, which received a B-minus. Rock Island High offers a college preparatory and vocational curriculum through honors and advanced placement courses. Douglas Park is mainly a residential neighborhood, though there are a sprinkling of dining options nearby. Just south of Douglas Park, Pee Wees Restaurant is a family-owned establishment serving some of the region’s best soul food in a property nestled between residential housing. Nearby, Chopsticks House China Chef serves Chinese fare in a casual sit-down restaurant. There's a Hy-Vee Grocery Store on 18th Avenue and a Citi Trends on First Street A. 11th Street and Illinois Route 92 border the neighborhood to the east and west, providing direct access to downtown Rock Island. Public transportation is available through Quad Cities Metrolink, which serves Douglas Park through several bus stops along 11th Street and 5th Street. Quad Cities International Airport is located about 9 miles southeast of the neighborhood.

Rock Island's unique geography, situated between the Mississippi River and the Rock River, made it a well-known stop along the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroads. Of course, fewer people get around by train today, but the city remains at a crossroads, and locals can conveniently drive across one of two bridges connecting to Davenport across the Iowa state line. Modern Downtown Rock Island is now full of lively restaurants and bars, as well as riverside parks and entertainment centers. Featuring more dining and entertainment options than any other neighborhood in the city, Downtown Rock Island offers walking distance to expansive recreational amenities in the heart of the Quad Cities. The neighborhood’s bars and restaurants stand out for their variety and liveliness. Offering vegan delicacies alongside teas and alcoholic drinks, Rozz-Tox café is known for its hip atmosphere and live performances from DJs and local bands alike. Located inside an old-school diner, QC Coffee and Pancake House is a popular brunch spot featuring everything from pancakes and eggs to roast beef sandwiches and burgers. Located on 2nd Avenue is Brick and Motor Boutique, a popular waterfront shop selling clothing, jewelry and accessories. Residents can grab groceries at Hy-Vee Grocery Store, 1 mile southeast of the neighborhood. Given Rock Island’s proximity to the Mississippi River, locals can take a relaxing stroll along the water or gaze across the river for a view of neighboring Davenport, Iowa, through Schwiebert Riverfront Park’s onsite telescope. The park also features an outdoor stage and lawn, providing seasonal concerts. Locals can also check out the unopened Quad Cities Time Capsule at Centennial Bridge Park or lounge on the grass next to the bridge on a nice day. Home to various plant species, The Quad Cities Botanical Center immerses visitors in a rich natural environment with indoor and outdoor exhibits. Situated in the center of Downtown Rock Island, the Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse is a former Vaudeville theater now serving dinner and a show with a diverse array of musicals and plays throughout the year. Laid out in a grid, Downtown Rock Island stretches from 7th Avenue to the south to the riverfront to the north. Properties and businesses are positioned close together and consist mostly of single-family condominiums and townhouses, with a few Italianate-influenced Colonial Revivals sprinkled throughout. Narrow sidewalks shaded by a peppering of mature trees line the broad streets. Though most homes are historic and do not come with attached garages, there is plenty of street parking available. While the median sale price of properties in Rock Island is about $100,000, most homes Downtown sell for between $70,000 and $350,000. Highway 92, 1st Avenue in Rock Island, borders the neighborhood to the north and connects to the Centennial Expressway and U.S. Route 67 to the west. Centennial Bridge connects residents to Iowa, just across the Mississippi River. Metrolink serves Downtown Rock Island, providing 12 fixed routes around Rock Island and to the surrounding cities of Moline, East Moline, Colona, Hampton, Silvis and Carbon Cliff. Cyclists can commute via two bike lanes that run east to west and north to south throughout the neighborhood. For long-distance travel, the Quad Cities International Airport is 8.5 miles southeast. The Rock Island School District No. 41 serves the residents of Downtown Rock Island. From pre-K to grade 6, students can attend Rock Island Academy, which received a C from Niche. Students can continue their education at Washington Junior High School and Rock Island High School, both of which scored a B-minus on the site. Rock Island High hosts an extensive music program featuring three different show choirs. The Chamber Singers are always in high demand for local events, especially around the holidays, when they perform their annual Christmas tour throughout the Quad Cities.