Village Information
Parks
Rapids City has three parks, a public boat ramp, a community center, and maintains its portion of the River Way trail.
River Bend Park is located on top of 17th Street Hill. Picnic tables, outdoor grills, playground equipment, a basketball court, a softball diamond and restroom facilities are included at this park.
Shadow Hill Park is located on top of 12th Street Hill. Here you will find a softball diamond used by the youth of Rapids City and other surrounding small towns for Co-ed Softball sponsored through the Hampton Township Youth Commission. Sign up is in early Spring of each year. Watch for posted announcements.
Shuler's Shady Grove Park is located at 1st Avenue and 11th Street and includes a boat ramp with parking lot, park, scenic overlook at our gazebo, and a portion of the Great River Trail Bike Path.
Sulpher Creek Park is located on the corner of 14th Street and 4th Avenue. Amenities at the park include Picnic tables, outdoor grill, playground equipment, a basketball court.
Facilities
Community Center
The Rapids City Community Center is available for rent for your special events. The Community Center is conveniently located 1204 4th Avenue, Rapids City. Our Community Center is a great place to host your birthdays, showers, weddings, and anniversary parties. For information concerning dates, pricing and policies for our facility please click the links below. You may call the Village Office if you have additional questions after reviewing the below information by dialing 309-496-2321. If you have confirmed the date you would like to book the Community Center is available you may complete the linked Community Center Agreement below, bring or mailing with a damage/security deposit check to the Village Office to secure your event.
2023 Community Center Rates – Policies
2024 Community Center Rental Agreement
School
Riverdale District School
- Superintendent: 309-523-3184
- Elementary: 309-523-3186
- Middle School: 309-523-3131
- Senior High: 309-523-3181
- Address: 9624 256th St. N. Port Byron, IL 61275
Building Permits
Fee Schedule
All construction or alterations of any building or structure in the Village of Rapids City must follow all Village Ordinances, the current edition of the "International Building Code" guidelines, and or Rock Island County Building Codes. All construction or alterations to any existing structure in the Village where the costs exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) require securing a building permit. Minor maintenance repairs to an existing structure where the costs are under Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) including labor and materials are not required to secure a building permit.
A permit will need to be purchased in person at the Village of Rapids City Office located at 1204 - 4th Avenue Rapids City, IL 61278. No permits or payments for permits will be accepted via email, fax, or mail! Linked below is the fee schedule for building and electrical permits, we use the same rates as Rock Island County. Please call for plumbing permit pricing. If a permit is not obtained prior to construction the permit cost will double in price. Cash and check are accepted for payment for all permits.
When coming to purchase your permit a copy of blue prints, diagram of building on the lot showing pins and distances, contractor names, license numbers (plumbers and roofers), and certificate of liability will be required. If you are a contractor please complete the Contractor Registration Form linked below.
Sign Up Today!
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Download the Alert Me app in the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
Storm Siren
Rapids City has a storm siren located on 17th Street near the Public Works Maintenance Building. On the first Tuesday of each month the storm siren is tested at 10am. This test and all siren activations are conducted by QComm911 located in Milan, IL. The siren’s automatic activation follows the current guidelines set forth in the attached document along with the National Weather Service’s preset polygons. Storm Guidelines.
Frequently Asked Questions
The following is a set of the most commonly asked questions and the most specific answers we can provide to those questions.
Q. When should I put my garbage out?
- A. By law, your refuse must be ready for pickup by 7:00 a.m. on your collection day, Rapids City collection day is Friday. You may put it out anytime after 6:00 p.m. the evening before. Due to unforeseen scheduling demands we can not guarantee any particular time of the day that your truck will be around. If you miss the truck, hold your trash until the next week.
Q. What does it mean when they say "properly packaged refuse"?
- A. In order to be "properly packaged", all trash must be in containers made of rigid (durable) metal or plastic with secured handles and tight fitting lids. Containers must be no smaller than 10 gallon and no larger than 33 gallon capacity. Plastic trash bags are also accepted. They should be intact, securely tied and within the container size guidelines of 10-33 gallons. Containers should be kept drained of all liquids and kept closed or covered at all times. The filled weight of any container or plastic bag should never exceed 50 pounds.
Q. Why do sanitation crews leave certain things at the curb?
- A. Here are some common reasons: You may have missed your "bulky item" pickup day. Rapids City 's large item pickup is the first Friday of each month. A crew member may have spotted yard waste mixed in with your regular trash. Your trash may be "improperly packaged" (see above). Also, they cannot take building materials or auto parts. It may be possible that you did not have your trash out by 7:00 a.m. and you missed the truck when it came by. It may also be possible that hazardous waste materials were put out for collection. If none of these applies, please call your municipal sanitation contractor, Allied Waste at 1-800-233-9634.
Q. What is bulky waste?
- A. Bulky waste items are things like couches, large chairs, tables, picnic tables, mattresses and box springs, or other large household items. Construction materials and refuse from remodeling are NOT bulky waste. They will NOT be removed except as a clean up job for a quoted fee.
Q. What should I do with my bulky waste items?
- A. Sanitation crews will pick up bulky items at the curb on the FIRST THURSDAY of the FIRST FULL WEEK OF THE MONTH ONLY. For the exact pickup day for any month call Village Hall at 309-496-2321.
Q. What does it mean when they say "properly packaged refuse"?
- A. In order to be "properly packaged", all trash must be in containers made of rigid (durable) metal or plastic with secured handles and tight fitting lids. Containers must be no smaller than 10 gallon and no larger than 33 gallon capacity. Plastic trash bags are also accepted. They should be intact, securely tied and within the container size guidelines of 10-33 gallons. Containers should be kept drained of all liquids and kept closed or covered at all times. The filled weight of any container or plastic bag should never exceed 50 pounds.
Q. What items CANNOT be picked up?
- A. Appliances such as stoves, washers, dryers, refrigerators, and air conditioners are not accepted. E-Goods such as TV's, monitors, CPU's, copiers, fax machines, stereos, and printers are not accepted. Any types of automobile oils, tires, liquid paint, chain link fence, or woven wire fence are also not acceptable. These items are not accepted in an EPA approved landfill by State & Federal law.
Q. How do I get rid of old appliances and tires?
- A. Rock Island County Waste Management Agency (RICWMA) now has a recycling program for appliances. You can reach them at 877-934-5378.
Q. What about yard waste?
- A. Yard waste will be picked up in bags, but they must have a sticker on them. Purchase stickers for $1.50 each at the Village Hall during regular business hours. Yard waste is picked up from April 1st to November 30th.
Q. If I see someone dumping illegally, where do I report it?
- A. Report it immediately to your local police department. Try to get a license number and description of the car and persons involved.
Q. How can I track Mississippi River water levels in our area?
- A. This link to the National Weather Service website has been provided to help our residents track Mississippi River water levels in our area.
News and Events
May 13, 2025/ Town Hall Meeting
Village Board Meetings are held the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6:30pm. Meetings may be attended virtually via Zoom; please see agenda for a link.
Your Annual Water Quality Report is now available at www.ilrwa.org/CCR/RapCity.pdf.