URBANA, IL (Chambana Today) – The Urbana Park District Board of Commissioners (UPDBC) has approved the updated Weaver and Prairie Park Master Plans.
“We will connect 22 acres of Prairie Park with 60 acres of Weaver Park to create over 80 acres of green space in east Urbana,” said Tim Bartlett, Executive Director of Urbana Park District.
This new plan is the culmination of a two-year study and intensive planning process with input from community members. “The park district first presented the tentative plans for Weaver Park to the Urbana Park District Advisory Committee (UPDAC) last year, and the group was very excited to see this area of Urbana transformed into a destination park in our community,” said Ashley Withers, the UPDAC chair, said, “After initial public feedback and surveys, the park district really went above and beyond when it came to going back to the drawing board to see how they could meet the needs of our youth athletics programs, as well as maintaining the integrity of the natural areas.”
The funding proved to be a collective effort, with private donations, city and county ARPA grants, and money from the Urbana Parks Foundation.
Michael Walker, President of the UPDBC, says, “This innovative plan could only exist because of the many Urbana residents and others who worked diligently with us to create it, and we thank them.”