A Look Back at 2022

A Look Back at 2022

As another year draws to a close, we would like to take a look back at the past twelve months. In 2022, we had much to celebrate—from the return of our Barn Bash event to the completion of the Blair Park resurfacing project to the 25th anniversary of the Wandell...
Help us Connect Classes with Nature this Giving Tuesday

Help us Connect Classes with Nature this Giving Tuesday

Students in Urbana need your help to connect with the environment and learn about nature! Every year, Urbana Park District hosts hundreds of students on field trips to learn about nature and the environment, and for some students, this is their first exposure to...
Meet Chris Scherer: New Urbana Parks Foundation Trustee

Meet Chris Scherer: New Urbana Parks Foundation Trustee

An interest in nature from an early age Chris Scherer grew up on a farm in southeastern Illinois, near Olney. He was extremely active in 4-H and FFA and particularly enjoyed subjects such as entomology, forestry, soil conservation, wildlife management, and bird study....
Thankful for Urbana Parks

Thankful for Urbana Parks

In this month’s blog post we hear from Urbana Parks supporter Deb Newell. Deb is a retired librarian who moved to Urbana in November, 1980. Given that it’s November, and in the spirit of Thanksgiving, we hear from Deb on why she is thankful for Urbana...
Getting to Know Trustee Judy Miller

Getting to Know Trustee Judy Miller

Judy Miller recently join the Urbana Parks Foundation after working many years as the Environmental Program Manager for the Urbana Park District. The following was posted in the Environmental Education Association of Illinois’ Newsletter this past summer: Judy Miller...
Getting to Know UPF Trustee Ellen Kirsanoff

Getting to Know UPF Trustee Ellen Kirsanoff

My name is Ellen Kirsanoff, and I am a new Trustee with the Urbana Parks Foundation.  After serving as the Urbana Park District’s Development Manager for 25+ years, I retired in January of 2021, and joined the Foundation board in June.  The time I spent with the...