ROCK ISLAND -- After being open a year-and-a-half, Schwiebert Riverfront Park has become one of Rock Island's main attractions, far exceeding the city's expectations and boasting the most used interactive, digital playground in the nation. "People have really enjoyed the park, whether it has been for special events or a small concert or just walking around," city parks and recreation director Bill Nelson said. "I'm surprised at the number of visitors." The riverfront park, the first of its kind in the Quad-Cities, opened on July 3, 2010. Since then, it has soared in popularity and received almost a dozen awards. "It's a plan that has been realized both in its recognition from peers, like engineering and architect firms, but also by its users," said Alan Carmen, the city's planning and redevelopment director. "The public has just been thrilled with the results. It's nice when you see a plan turn into a reality that is appreciated by everybody who uses it." There are about 20 city parks in Rock Island, and Schwiebert Riverfront Park, the newest, is the most popular, Mr. Nelson said. "On a daily basis in the summertime, we may see anywhere from 500 to 1,000 people go through the park in a day," he said. "We thought it would be fairly popular, but it is more than we imagined. In the first year, we've had just about three to four years of use out of it." The park also gets plenty of use during winter months for eagle watching and other activities. "The park is beautiful. You can see the river. With the casino here before, you really couldn't see around it," said Derek Cappaert, of Andalusia, who was taking a ride down the bike path on an unseasonably warm winter day. "I think the park is much more positive than what was here before." Schwiebert Riverfront Park is on the former riverfront site of the Rock Island Armory and Jumer's Casino. Its amenities include direct views of the Mississippi River and water access; a 3,000-square-foot open-air stage; an interactive, digital playground and spray fountain play area; observation shelter; waterfront promenade; bike trail access and landscaped green space. The park was named in honor of former Rock Island Mayor Mark Schwiebert, who served in that office for 20 years. According to KOMPAN, the manufacturer of the interactive playground equipment, which also digitally tracks its usage, Schwiebert Park's equipment clocked more usage this past July than any other digital, interactive playground in the United States and Canada, including similar setups in New York, Philadelphia and New Orleans. The $12.35 million project was paid for with $1.25 million from downtown tax-increment-finance (TIF) funds, and bonds were issued for $11.1 million. The largest event held in the park to date was the four-day 2011 Train Festival last July, which brought more than 30,000 people from 46 states and 14 countries. That event's economic impact was estimated at $5.5 million. The park will get a new attraction later this year. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded the city a $1.5 million grant to build a transient boat dock there. The city will match the grant with $565,000 from TIF funds to accommodate approximately 23 transient boating slips at the park. Construction likely will begin in early fall and finish late in the year, Mr. Carmen said. Schwiebert Riverfront Park, in whole or in part, is available for public rental for weddings, concerts, special events and festivals. Rental rates start at $150. For more information or to rent the park, call (309) 732-PARK or 732-ROOM.