Atwood Center — Attraction in Rockford Township

11/9/24 update: We've come here quite often, but I have to say that I don't love the park anymore. Yes, there are occasional trail maps, but none up by the raptors where most families start their hikes. It really wouldn't be that hard to pound a (for example) blue stake in at each turn for little to follow one path, a green for another, etc.

There are no signs telling you about the animals that live here, why they are here, why they can't be released, etc. The silver metal hardware cloth of the enclosures makes it very hard to see the birds. You literally can't see the screech owls unless you know they are there and get the right lighting. Painting the metal black on the outside would help visitors, and still leave the hardware cloth visible to the birds for safety. I would also love to see bigger and take enclosures, and have explanations as to why the birds that would live in pairs or groups in the wild are living alone here.

This is still a nice place to enjoy outdoor time with the family, but if they would make some improvements like marking the trails and adding more educational and interpretive signs and demos a lot more people would be here

Fun for the family on dog friendly trails. I wish the trail entrances were clearly marked. And I wish each spot where the trail has options to take was marked so you could just follow that and not worry about how far away you were going with little kids that needed to be able to make it back. The raptors were fun to look at. I wish there were signs by each animal talking about the species, and saying why each animal was there and couldn't be released. Seems like 2 missed enviro ed opportunities missed by not having signs. My five year old son, our dog, and I enjoyed our time here. I recommend finding your way to the bridge...

A hidden gem in Rockford! What a cool place! I've only been here once so far, but I definitely plan to return. The birds of prey exhibit is fascinating, so cool to be able to be up close with those large predators. The beautiful wooded area has tons of paths, including mountain biking, snowshoeing, and hiking trails. The historic area is eerily interesting, and I really appreciate the way they highlight the prominent figures of that past. The facility and grounds are very well kept and apparently offer camp experiences to kids. I can't wait to take advantage of such a cool place as the...

Excellent place to visit with the kids! Went during Saturday feeding for the Birds of Prey and it was awesome. Learned so much about the birds and the sad stories that brought them to Atwood Center. They obviously are well cared for birds and glad that places like this exist to care for them and their unique disabilities. Employees here were wonderful! Definitely will be back when it's not so slushy to check...