Macomb Park District Legacy: A Patchwork of Community Parks

The Macomb Park District and the Western Illinois Museum are partnering to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Macomb Park District. A new exhibit Macomb Park District Legacy: A Patchwork of Community Parks is designed to show the role and service the Park District has historically brought to the community. The exhibit will open on Friday, July 8th, with a reception from 4:30 to 7:30 pm and includes a cash bar and live music with George Turner and Matt Hughes. On Saturday, July 16th, the celebration continues with the unveiling of four new interactive sculptures at Citizen’s Plaza Park at 9:30 am; reception and viewing of the exhibit will follow from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm; donuts and coffee will be served.  Events are free and open to the public.

The exhibit Macomb Park District Legacy: A Patchwork of Community Parks has been researched and curated by Sir. Rok Locksley, a Peace Corps Fellow from the Fellows Program in Community Development and the Macomb Park Districts’ AmeriCorps member. The exhibit was developed from archives as well as interviewing past employees. The exhibit will demonstrate how each park throughout Macomb was patchworked together through various initiatives and community members to meet the needs of area residents. The exhibit includes a timeline, photographs, interactive opportunities, and related items from the Museum’s collection. Viewing the exhibit is a journey where guests learn about each park’s founding, and what role they play in the Park Districts’ service to the City of Macomb.

In addition to guest curating the exhibit, Locksley has designed four sculptures for the Park Districts’ newly acquired Citizen’s Plaza Park located in downtown Macomb.  Designed to be interactive and based on a recent series of Macomb School of Magic programs, these permanently installed artworks will evoke a playful sense of discovery and wonder. The sculptures have been made possible under the guidance of WIU Art Department professor, Duke Ousler.  

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and through local funds from the Two Rivers Arts Council, a regional arts organization.

The Citizen’s Plaza Park is located at the intersection of Randolph and Washington Streets.  The Western Illinois Museum is located at 201 S. Lafayette Street, one block south of Macomb Courthouse Square. Free parking is available and the building is handicap accessible.  For more information, contact the Museum by phone at 309.837.2750, text at 309.837.2613, or by email at info@wimuseum.org or the Macomb Park District at 309.833.4652. Free parking is available. 

About Sir. Rok Locksley

Rok Locksley is a Peace Corps Fellow and recent graduate from Western Illinois University where he received a Master’s Degree in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration. He has been an RPTA Graduate Assistant and then an AmeriCorps member with the Macomb Park District for the past two years where he created programs such as the well-known Macomb School of Magic, which included activities at area parks.  The Macomb School of Magic has been made into a board game that can be purchased at Battlegrounds Board game store, and a digital comic will debut later this summer.

Locksley served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Republic of Moldova from 2005 to 2008 where he was knighted for his community development work. Locksley then worked as the Illinois recruiter for the Peace Corps from 2009 to 2016.  From 2018 to 2020, he served a second tour in the Peace Corps with his partner, Genevieve in the Philippines. He began his graduate studies at WIU in the Fall of 2020.

In 2020, Locksley became a Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) with the National Association for Interpretation, and in 2022, he won the RPTA Outstanding Graduate Student Award at WIU. Prior to his service with the Peace Corps, he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from James Madison University and worked as a professional artist.