CHAMPAIGN, IL (CHAMBANA TODAY)- The City is excited to announce a new pilot project to create and program a Downtown Entertainment District to bring fun, energy, and more visitors to downtown Champaign this summer. The project kicks off May 31 and runs through the fall. Some details are still being developed, but here’s a quick look at what you can look forward to this summer.
Expanded Friday Night Live – A fan favorite, this year Friday Night Live expands an hour and runs 6:00-9:00 pm. Thanks to our partners at 40 North, you can enjoy live music on three different stages located throughout downtown. Friday nights from May 31 to September 6.
Market Street Entertainment District – On Friday nights and all day Saturday, Market Street between Main and University will be a pedestrian-only zone for visitors to explore and enjoy. On Friday and Saturday nights from 10:00 pm to 1:00 am, live music, DJs, food trucks, and other options will help adults 19 and older safely unwind and enjoy amazing tunes in Downtown Champaign. And during the day on Saturdays, people of all ages will be treated to a series of unique, fun, family-oriented activities. Fridays and Saturdays from May 31 to October 12. More details coming soon!
Downtown Festival Districts – Adults who enjoy jamming to live music while enjoying a cool beverage will love the Downtown Festival Districts planned this summer! Downtown Festival Districts allow customers to get “to-go” alcoholic drinks from their favorite downtown bar or restaurant and then enjoy them outside on the sidewalk while listening to music during Friday Night Live or the late-night entertainment held on Taylor Street.
Mark Police Week with Champaign Police
National Police Week is proclaimed annually in May, with events scheduled across the nation May 12-18, 2024. As we mark Police Week locally this month, the City of Champaign has some special events for community members to attend. Throughout Police Week, the Champaign Police Department will celebrate the hard work of their team members before pausing to reflect on the sacrifice of our fallen heroes.
Champaign Police Memorial Ceremony– Tuesday, May 14, 9:00 am
Join us for this annual ceremony to remember CPD’s fallen heroes, Sergeant Thomas Dodsworth, Officer Robert Tatman, and Officer Christopher Oberheim.
Location: West Side Park, Champaign
Countywide Police Memorial Ceremony – Tuesday, May 14, 10:00 am
Following Champaign’s ceremony, first responders from across Champaign County will gather for the Countywide Police Memorial Ceremony.
Location: Champaign County Courthouse, Urbana
Champaign Police Historical Room Dedication – May 14, 11:30 am
Join us as we honor the CPD Historical Society and share the history of the Champaign Police Department with our community. This public ceremony will celebrate the service of our officers and dedicate a new historical room to honor their efforts. Visitors can explore the historical displays following the ceremony between noon and 5 pm.
Location: Champaign Police Department, 82 E. University Ave.
Police Employee Awards Ceremony – May 15, 5:30 pm
Join us as we recognize the exceptional efforts of CPD employees and highlight the service of sworn and civilian staff over the last year.
Location: Champaign Police Department, 82 E University Ave.
Cop on a Rooftop – May 17, 6:00 to 9:00 am
Look up in the sky! It’s a Cop on a Rooftop! Stop by for an opportunity to say “hi” and chat with Champaign Police as they raise money to benefit the Special Olympics of Illinois.
Location: Dunkin’ Donuts, 1302 N. Prospect Avenue, Champaign
Please join us in saluting our local law enforcement professionals May 12-18 and all year long!
Summer Reading Kickoff Party at the Library!
You’re invited to an all-ages community celebration to kick off the Read for the Stars! Summer Reading Challenge at the Champaign Public Library on May 19 from noon to 3 pm. Enjoy live music on the lawn, including local favorites, the Church Street Ramblers (noon–1 p.m.) and Merry Travelers (1:30–3 p.m.). You’ll also get to meet robots and play giant Jenga!
In addition, teens from the Ctrl-Y Robotics team will be inside demonstrating the capabilities of two robots they built. Events made possible with support of the Library Friends.
Champaign NEIGHBORhood NetWORKS Campaign – May 18
The Champaign NEIGHBORhood NetWORKS Campaign (CNNC) is a four-phase engagement campaign that begins with the CNNC conference on May 17 and culminating with a series of fun engagement activities across Champaign.
The kickoff event is on May 18 from noon – 4 pm in the Washington and Walnut Street parking lot in Downtown Champaign. This family-friendly event will feature a vendor resource fair, a kids’ zone with games and a bounce house, a cookout, and alive band. This event is free and open to the public so please join us!
Explore City Vehicles at Touch-A-Truck on May 8
Give the little ones a chance to see some big machines at the Champaign Park DistrictTouch-a-Truck event on May 8 from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm at Centennial Park.
Each year the City of Champaign proudly participates in this amazing family event. Stop by the park and explore all types of vehicles from our Police, Fire, and Public Works Departments! To accommodate our guests with sensory sensitivities, the first hour of the event will be sensory-friendly without any lights, sirens, or horns. We’ll see you there!
Online registration is NOW OPEN for the Spring Residential Electronics Collection Event on May 18.
Pre-registration is REQUIRED and allows residents to select a 15-minute timeslot to drop off their unwanted or broken electronics for safe recycling with very minimal wait times. This event is open to all Champaign residents and those living in other participating communities. Registered participants can drop off up to seven items to recycle, including four tube televisions. For a detailed list of items that will and will not be accepted please visit the event website.
Need help or have questions not addressed on the website? Contact recycling@champaignil.gov or 217-403-4780.
Yard Waste Collection Reminder
One more opportunity – the City’s Spring Yard Waste Collection wraps up this month!
Blue Zone – May 13
Orange Zone – May 20
Click the map image to enlarge or search by address on our interactive web map. This free service is available to all residential properties within the Champaign city limits. To participate, residents simply place bagged yard waste and/or bundled sticks along the curb by 6:00 am on their assigned collection day.
For full details please click the link below.
Champaign’s Firefighters of the Year Honored
(L-R) Fire Chief Andy Quarnstrom, Engineer Alex Kocher, Lt. Jon Jenkins, Firefighter Brandon Helm, and Tom Williams (Champaign Exchange Club)
The Champaign Fire Department and the Champaign Exchange Club are honoring the 2023 Firefighters of the Year recipients – Lieutenant Jon Jenkins, Engineer Alex Kocher, and Firefighter Brandon Helm. Fire Department staff and families and City leaders attended a ceremony in their honor at Fire Station 1 on April 29.
This year’s Firefighter of the Year recipients were nominated by their peers and nominations were reviewed by a panel. Each recipient is described as a leader in the organization who is concerned about helping others.
Congratulations Jon, Alex, and Brandon!
Congratulations to 2024 Telecommunicator of the Year – Amelia Martin
The 2024 METCAD 9-1-1 Telecommunicator of the Year is Amelia Martin. Amelia joined METCAD as an enthusiastic and professional Telecommunicator in October 2011. Thirteen years later, she remains a source of positive energy at METCAD, and as her co-workers will attest, Amelia is nearly always the first to say “Yes, I’ll help!”
Aside from her skills as a call taker and dispatcher, Amelia performs so many other important tasks for METCAD, and for the residents and visitors in Champaign County. She knows the job well and encourages others to come join her in a career she has come to love.
Amelia’s most important contribution this past year is in the area of Telecommunicator mental health. She organized a mental health booklet for all new hires, and their families, which stresses the importance of taking care of your mental health. Amelia goes above and beyond and is always mindful of her co-workers. Her efforts are greatly appreciated by all those around her.
Spring has brought warmer weather and rain. The warmer weather has caused grass and vegetation to start growing so it’s time to warm up that lawnmower!
In Champaign, grass is required to be maintained below eight-inches in height, and City Inspectors are out checking to ensure that yards and properties are being properly maintained. Lawns that are not maintained will be mowed by a contractor hired by the City, with the cost of the mowing billed to the property owner.
If you would like to report a property that is not being maintained in your neighborhood, use the link below to submit a nuisance complaint form or notify the Neighborhood Services Department at 217-403-7070 or neighborhoodservices@champaignil.gov.
In March, the City implemented the Vital Home Repair Program, a new program that offers up to $60,000 for home repairs to qualified homeowners. From March 25-29, pre-applications were accepted, and there was an overwhelming response.
The City received a total of 453 pre-applications. After review, 345 applications qualified and were entered into randomizing software to simulate a lottery, and the first 15 selected were then invited to submit a full application. Intake appointments are in progress, and construction is planned to begin this month.
Building Safety Affects Us All!
This month the International Code Council began their 44th annual Building Safety Month. This year’s campaign – Mission Possible – encourages people to get involved in all aspects of building safety and helps bolster the connection between building codes and our personal safety, as well as the important work done by building safety professionals in our community.
For the last 44 years, Building Safety Month has celebrated advances in constructing safe, sustainable, affordable, and resilient buildings and homes. The Mission Possible campaign helps highlight how building safety impacts us all. Weekly themes highlight educational resources and actionable tips on how to advocate for building safety.
