Get ready for another River District Bike Tour that highlights the development of southwest Rockford.

This tour begins promptly at 8 am, Saturday, July 20th from the parking lot at Klemm  Arboretum at 2715  S. Main Street.  Free parking lot access will be provided to our bikers taking part in the tour. Just state to the docent at the entry gatehouse that you’re there for the Bike Tour.

This Bike tour will highlight the impact our Italian immigrants had on Rockford’s History. I will talk along the route about leaders in the Italian and Lithuanian communities and the architecture they created. The tour will also highlight quite a few landmarks and redevelopments underway.

Our tour begins at Klemm with the history of its origin and its operations as an Arboretum. Stops include the Poor Clares Corpus Christi Monastery, Lithuanian Club, St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Washington Elementary  School, Montague Library, St. Anthony Catholic Church, Tinker Cottage, Graham – Ginestra – Ethnic Heritage Museum, Capitol Theater,  Barber Colman and the Colman Yards redevelopment, bike path along  S. Main Street along the river,  and the Thatcher Blake Condominium development.

The ride is approximately 5 miles in length, with a few hills, and will take a little less than two hours to complete. There is lots of history and architecture to share along the route that you will find informative.

Upon completing the bike tour, our guests will be welcome to stay and enjoy the Arboretum and its current very cool sculpture exhibits with a small donation to Rockford’s hidden GEM. The bike route map is attached.