Great Parks Build Great Communities
The Urbana Parks Foundation
Nature when you need it
Wet shoes, dirty jeans and a memory of pond dipping with his classmates in Busey Woods. A student learned a few of the benefits of exploring the natural world on a school tour offered by the Anita Purves Nature Center. Today as a volunteer, he’s leading those tours.
A grass-stained jersey, first goal scored and ear-to-ear smile were the results for one young girl after a Saturday soccer game led by her volunteer coach. A few years later, teamwork and giving her best have become routine and part of her work ethic as a high school soccer player.
The Urbana Park District offers indoor and outdoor recreation for all ages. The opportunities it provides lead to lifelong healthy habits, hobbies, interests and friendships, letting everyone experience something fun, new, rewarding, memorable, meaningful. You probably have your own memories from a park, perhaps a deer seen in Meadowbrook or vibrant wildflowers in Busey Woods.
Have you ever wondered what it has taken for the wonderful Urbana park system to become what it is today?
The Campaign for the Health & Wellness Facility
Building for the Future
Supporting Urbana’s Park Systems
Nature, people, and community health
Tax dollars are the bedrock of support on which the Park District is built, but Urbana’s parks are the important community asset they are because of significant support received from other sources. That’s where the Urbana Parks Foundation (UPF) comes in. It was established to help meet the growing need for supplemental support by raising funds for district activities.
The UPF seeks donations from people and organizations who appreciate the value of parks or programs not just for their immediate esthetic or environmental value, but for the impact they have on future generations.
Urbana Parks are a Resource for Everyone.
Latest News
Urbana Parks Foundation announces $5.3 million fundraising campaign to construct a Health & Wellness Facility
Working with the Urbana Park District (UPD), the Urbana Parks Foundation (UPF) has publicly kicked off its Health & Wellness Campaign, the largest campaign in its history. The Campaign seeks to raise $5.3 million, $2.8 million of this through philanthropy, to...
Stay at Home Spring Break: Spend the Week in Urbana Parks
For those who feel uneasy about travel this spring, you can find plenty of adventure in your Urbana parks for a fun-filled Spring Break. In this month’s blog, we look at some fun ways to enjoy the parks with the kids during your week off.
Reflecting on a Year of Achievements
To put it mildly, 2020 was a chaotic year. And while it may have felt like things ground to a halt, as the COVD-19 pandemic overshadowed everything we experienced, the Urbana Parks Foundation was still able to get stuff done throughout the year. In this month’s blog, we would like to highlight some of our 2020 achievements.
Crystal Lake Park rejuvenation project
The Crystal Lake Park Rehabilitation Project has been working diligently for five years to improve water quality, recreation areas, habitats, and the shoreline. Thanks to state and local support—including the recently concluded Urbana Parks Foundation Campaign for the Next Century—all this work adds up to a cleaner, safer, and more accessible park. In this month’s blog, we check in on the project’s progress and what is yet to come.
21 things to do in Urbana Parks in 2021
With a new year upon us, thoughts inevitably turn to resolutions. Instead of making specific vows of what we would like to change, in this month’s blog we have decided to brainstorm 21 wonderful ways to enjoy Urbana parks in 2021.
5 reasons we are thankful for Urbana Parks
As fall draws closer to winter, the warmth of the holidays helps us keep the chilly temperatures at bay. With Thanksgiving fast approaching, we would like to take a moment to show gratitude to our community and explore five reasons we are thankful for Urbana Parks.