Volunteer teams from the Parks and Conservation Foundation and Kids Around the World will build a new playground over five days next week. The new playground will be built in Bob’s Park, bordered by Meadow and Locust streets and Warren and Nebraska avenues. How to help Cash donations may be sent in care of Bob’s Park to the Parks and Conservation Foundation, 1006 W. Lincoln Ave., Belvidere, IL 61008. The workday will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day Monday through Sept. 12. For more information, call Mark Luthin at 815-544-5283 or Mary Marquardt at 815-544-9144. The park was named after Robert Howells, who died May 23 at the age of 62. Howells was instrumental in helping secure land for the foundation and conservation district. “He was very selfless. I don’t know if he made a nickel doing any of these things. He just enjoyed doing it,” said Dan Roddewig, executive director of the Belvidere Park District. “He just loved doing things that would end up providing a public benefit.” The park was named after Howells before he died. “We had hoped that he would be alive to see kids playing in his park, but his spirit is there with us. We think he’ll be smiling,” said Mark Luthin, president of the Parks and Conservation Foundation. Luthin said the Park District and the foundation saw a need for a playground in the neighborhood. “If you drive through that neighborhood there is a whole bunch of kids and they’re playing in the street,” Luthi ...
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