Champaign Park District

Curated by Explore CU staff

Since 1911, the Champaign Park District has been committed to providing its 75,000 residents with programs, parks, and facilities that improve their quality of life. With over sixty parks that cover about 650 acres of land, fifteen facilities, and numerous events and programs, it has become integral to the lives of thousands of people. Whether you’re fishing at Kaufman Lake, enjoying a show at the Virginia Theatre, or watching your child at a sports event, the Champaign Park District is sure to have something to offer anyone.

This tour features all of the parks in the Champaign Park District. Included in each entry is the location and acreage of the park, when it was obtained, what features are available in the park, and any historical significance.

Toalson Park

Toalson park offers picnic areas, a shelter, and outdoor grills. For recreation there is a playground, a walking path, and a volleyball court. Seasonally outdoor drinking fountains are available.

Garden Hills Park and Railroad Row

Garden Hills Park has a picnic area, a playground, an unlighted baseball field and a soccer field. Railroad Row is a greenway running parallel to the railroad tracks. It was obtained in 1993 through a license agreement with the City of…

Dodds Park

Dodds Park has parking and picnic areas, as well as seven lighted baseball fields and twelve soccer fields for sports teams. Seasonally, the park offers outdoor drinking fountains, restrooms, and concessions. Dodds Park hosts Champaign's 4th of…

Powell Park

Powell Park offers picnic areas and outdoor grills. For recreation the park offers a playground and an unlighted basketball court. Seasonally the park has an outdoor drinking fountain.

Heritage Park

Heritage Park has parking and picnic areas. Fishing on the lake is permitted.

Kaufman Park and Lake Boathouse

Kaufman park has parking, picnic areas, and grills available, as well as outdoor drinking fountains and restrooms. The distance around the lake is three quarters of a mile on the adjacent recreational trail. The Kaufman Lake Boathouse may be…

Sunset Ridge Park (Formerly Boulder Ridge Park)

Sunset Ridge Park recently opened after renovations and offers picnic areas, a shelter, outdoor grills, a drinking fountain, and a walking path. For recreation the park offers a playground, an unlighted basketball court, an unlighted tennis court,…

Hazel Park

Hazel park has picnic areas, a walking path, and seasonal outdoor drinking fountains. For recreation this park has a playground, an unlighted baseball field, and unlighted basketball court, and a soccer field.

Wesley Park

This park offers picnic areas and outdoor grills. For recreation there is a playground and two lighted basketball courts.

Douglass Park

Originally 3.5 acres, some of which were donated by Vern A. Roland, Anna K. Roland and Lela Collins and some of which were purchased 1931. In 1958, 1.1 acres were purchased and sold to the school district for Washington School. In 1961, 2 acres were…

Beardsley Park

Beardsley park is one of the oldest in Champaign. This park has picnic areas, outdoor grills and seasonally open outdoor drinking fountains. For recreation there is a playground and an unlighted basketball court.

Spalding Park

Spalding park features a parking area, picnic areas, covered seating, outdoor grills drinking fountains, restrooms, and concessions during peak season. For recreation the park has a playground, a lighted baseball field, a lighted basketball…

Glenn Park

This is a long strip of land that offers picnic areas, an unlighted basketball half-court, and a playground with swings.

Davidson Park

Davidson Park features a picnic area and a playground with swings.

Eisner Park (formerly West End Park)

Prior to being obtained by the Champaign Park District, West End Park contained attractions such as carnival rides, a roller coaster, a casino, refreshment booths, a shooting gallery, and a 600-person theater. Beginning in 1894, the park was the…

Mini Park V

Mini Park V is currently on loan from the Carle Foundation.

Trevett-Finch Park

In 1857, Trevett-Finch Park was the site Oliver Trevett's farmhouse, situated amid five acres of farmland. The farm stayed with the Trevett family for many generations, and was first passed to Oliver's son John R. Trevett. John Trevett was…

West Side Park

The land that is now West Side Park was originally set aside as a public square and possible site for the courthouse. It became the first official park in Champaign in 1859. It was originally named White Park after the man who first made the land…

Skelton Park

This park has lots of wide open space, some flower beds, and a creek running through it.

Lo Park

This park has a pond and a walking path that connects with Helms park to the south. The Stone Arch Bridge, which spans Second Street Basin between Helms and Lo Park, was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1981 (2). Completed…

Helms Park

In recent years Helms Park, as well as the adjacent Lo Park, have undergone some beautification efforts. In 1984 the historic Stone Arch Bridge was added through recreation easement by James O'Malley (1). Beginning in 2011 and finishing in…

Scott Park

Scott park features a playground, an unlighted basketball court, a walking path, and a covered picnic area with outdoor grills and drinking fountains. Scott Park underwent renovation in 2009, coordinating the Champaign Park District Scott Park…

Washington Park

Washington Park is home to an unlighted basketball court and two volleyball courts. There is also a picnic area, outdoor grills, and an outdoor water fountain.

Harris Park

This narrow park is situated in the middle of Elm Street, south of John Street and north of Charles Street.. Harris Park is lined with trees, providing greenery and shade to an already beautiful brick street.

Mini Park II

Mini Park II features a wide open lawn, a beautiful round flower garden, and a mural painted on the side of an adjacent building.

McCollum Park (Formerly Mini Park VII)

McCollum Park is a long strip of grass with beautiful flowerbeds located next to the railroad tracks on Neil Street. There is a large peacock statue whose tail feathers consist of colorfully arranged flowers.

Hosier Park

Hosier Park is a small, corner park located across the street to the south from McCollum Park. This small stretch of land is currently host to Kentucky artist Luke Achterberg's sculpture "Fettle," brought to the community by the…

Hessel Park

Hessel Park is a popular gathering place for many residents. The park features an unlighted baseball field, four lighted tennis courts, and two volleyball courts. There is also a waterplay area for children and a playground. Amenities such as a…

Mattis Park

Mattis park is a good place to relax with its wide open spaces, lake, picnic areas with shelters, and outdoor grills. At Mattis Park fishing is permitted in the pond. The park also features many flower and tree gardens with benches. Mattis Park…

Moore Park

Moore Park was donated by Harlan E. Moore in 1976. Included in the donation is a trust to upkeep the park. Moore park is located just south of Mattis Park and features a lot of wide open space, a picnic area, and park benches. The Boulware Trail…

Noel Park

In 1981, the Noel Family Trust provided a $224,00 grant to create Noel Park and the Lindsay Tennis Complex. Noel Park is located in the south-east of Champaign. This park features a picnic area, an unlighted baseball field, and a soccer field. …

Morrissey Park

Morrissey Park is a large park located in the southern portion of Champaign. It features a picnic area, outdoor grills, and water fountains. There are also a few walking paths and benches. For recreation Morrissey Park offers an unlighted…

Clark Park

Clark Park features an unlighted basketball court, two unlighted tennis courts, and a sand volleyball court. There is also a 1/3 acre playground. This park also offers picnic areas, outdoor grills, and an outdoor water fountain.

Mayfair Park

Mayfair Park offers picnic areas, outdoor drinking fountains, a playground with swings, and a short walking trail.

Wisegarver Park

Wisegarver Park is adjacent to Carrie Busey school, and gives extra land to the school for play. The park offers a soccer field, and an unlighted baseball field. Simon Trail begins (or ends) at Wisegarver Park. The trail is .53 miles long.

Greenbelt #1

This park began with 3.05 acres as a partial purchase and partial donation in 1978; Clarence Thompson and his neighbors raised funds. In 1997 .014 acres was added through a license agreement with the City of Champaign. Finally, that same year, .01…

Mini Park IV

Mini Park IV is on the NW corner of Mattis and Kirby. It features a flower bed and some benches.

Millage Park

Millage Park, which is located on Cherry Creek Rd. and Willoughby Rd., offers a playground with swings, outdoor drinking fountains, and a shelter area. There is a lot of wide open space.

Hallbeck Park

This park features seven acres of grass, as well as a few picnic tables and a shelter.

Meadows Square Park

Meadows Square Park is a wide open field with some park benches, flower beds, and a drinking fountain.

Robeson Park

Robeson Park features wide open space, picnic areas, drinking fountains, a walking path, and a playground with swings and a sand box. The park is adjacent to Robeson Elementary, and contains two unlighted baseball fields and a soccer field. The…

Robeson Meadows West Park

Robeson Meadows West Park is situated just west of Hallbeck Park in a residential area. The park has picnic areas, a drinking fountain, and a playground with swings. Robeson Meadows West connects with the Robeson Meadows West Trail (2 miles).

Robeson Meadows West Detention Park

The purpose of a detention park is to hold excess water, especially during floods, so it does not damage residential areas. As a result, it is not advised to play in this park after heavy rain. A leg of the Robeson Meadows West Trail (2 miles)…

Zahnd Park

Zahnd Park is a large park in southwest Champaign. It offers many amenities, such as two lighted baseball fields, used primarily for little league, a football field, picnic areas, a shelter, drinking fountains, restrooms, and concessions open…

Champaign Bark District (Dog Park)

The Champaign Bark District is a great place for dogs, large and small, to run off leash and play with other dogs. Picnic tables are available for dog owners to sit, and there are separate areas for large and small dogs. There are rules and…

Porter Family Park

The Porter Family Park is one of Champaign's newest parks, and the first natural areas park. The park currently has numerous walking paths, 300 trees, native plants, a pond with a pedestrian bridge, a small shelter, picnic areas, outdoor grills,…

Mullikin Park

Mullikin Park offers picnic areas, a shelter, outdoor grills, drinking fountains, a half basketball court, a playground with swings, and wide open space. Champaign's newest trail, Pipeline Trail (1 mile), is due west of Mullikin park and runs…

Bian Park

Currently Bian Park is an undeveloped park and contains one picnic table.

Turnberry Ridge Park

Turnberry Ridge Park features a playground with swings, a half basketball court, picnic areas, a shelter, and a water fountain. This park also contains part of the Turnberry Ridge Trail (1 mile).

Johnston Park

Johnston park features one unlighted baseball field, a soccer field, and a playground with swings. There are also picnic areas, drinking fountains, and a walking path around the park.

Centennial Park

Centennial Park is the second largest park in the Champaign Park District and has the widest variety of recreation to offer visitors. Centennial Park offers eight lighted tennis courts, one lighted baseball field and five unlighted baseball…

Tribute to Olympic and Paralympic Athletes

Architect: Jeffery S. Poss, AIB Location: Dodds Park, 1501 N. Mattis The Tribute to Olympic and Paralympic Athletes rises from an ordinary prairie landscape transformed by playing fields, gardens, and a community college campus. It honors the…