CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) — The Champaign Park District is preparing for a series of spring events designed to bring residents outdoors and connect the community through recreation and play.

During a recent interview on the Focus program, Champaign Park District Marketing Manager Tachel Brown said spring marks an exciting time for the district as parks and programs begin to fill with activity again.

“Year round, we provide, obviously, access to parks, trails, green spaces, playgrounds. We also have programming ranging from athletics to cultural arts to, we have the Virginia Theater with movies, live performances, and then of course, our special events,” Brown said.

Among the first upcoming events is Hopping to Spring at Douglas, scheduled for April 2 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Douglas Community Center. The free event will feature games, crafts, and spring-themed activities for children and families.

“We’re going to have all kinds of games, crafts, different activities for kids to do that are all spring related, kind of get them into that spring season mood,” Brown said. “It’s really for families with kids of all ages.”

Brown said making the event free and accessible helps ensure everyone in the community can participate.

“There’s a lot of families out there who may not have some extra money to spend on an event this spring,” Brown said. “So just having options available for everyone to enjoy it, to come together and just kick off the season is really important.”

Douglas Park also holds special historical significance in Champaign.

“As you probably know, it’s a stop on the African-American Heritage Trail. There’s a lot of historical significance to Douglas,” Brown said. “So being able to open up the community center and host events that are fun for the whole community and accessible is just really important.”

For adults looking for a more competitive event, the district will also host the Night Lights Egg Pursuit, an adults-only egg hunt that takes place after dark.

“It gets very competitive. If you’ve never gone, it’s just a bunch of adults carrying flashlights as soon as we say go,” Brown said. “It is, you have no friends anymore. It is just every man for themselves running out to grab those eggs.”

The event, open to participants 18 and older, features prize eggs that can be redeemed for special rewards.

“There’s also special eggs that we have — bronze, silver, and gold eggs — that have special exclusive prizes that adults would like,” Brown said. “In the past, we’ve had like kitchen appliances, things like that.”

This year the egg hunt will take place at a surprise location, which will be announced four days before the event on the park district’s social media pages.

The following morning, the district will host one of the area’s largest children’s egg hunts, Eggstravaganza, at Westside Park on April 4 from 10 a.m. to noon. The free event is designed for children 10 and under.

“Eggstravaganza has kind of become one of the biggest egg hunts in CU,” Brown said. “It’s completely free. It’s for kids 10 and under.”

The event uses age-based waves so younger children are not competing with older participants.

“A five-year-old is not competing with a 10-year-old,” Brown said. “It’s super fun. So many people come out and enjoy it.”

For families attending their first egg hunt, Brown offered simple advice.

“If it’s your first time going to Eggstravaganza, my biggest advice is show up early,” Brown said.

Brown said events like these help strengthen community connections while encouraging residents to enjoy the outdoors.

“I think just feeling more connected to nature and more connected to your fellow community members,” Brown said. “Maybe you’ll meet people you’ve never met before. Maybe you’ll see old friends.”

In addition to the spring activities, the park district is also launching a new event this season: the Lucky Dog 5K, scheduled for March 14 at Heritage Park. The race allows participants to bring their dogs along for the run.

“It’s going to be super fun,” Brown said.

More information about upcoming events can be found on the Champaign Park District website at champagneparks.org or on the organization’s Facebook page.