You can check both the news page and the events calendar page for upcoming events and programs.
You can also look through our program guide to see all the offerings each season Or follow us on social media by clicking one of the icons at the top of the homepage.
Any person requesting records of the Urbana Park District under the Freedom of Information Act must make such a request in writing either by mail, by e-mail, or by hand delivery at the Administration Office, 303 W. University Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801 to the FOIA Officer, Timothy A. Bartlett, who is the Executive Director. Use of the Urbana Park District’s FOIA Request Form will assist the district in responding to requests, but it is not required. Use of the term “FOIA” in the written request will also assist the district in responding to requests.
FOIA Officer
303 W. University Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801
Regular board meetings are the second Tuesday of each month at 7pm. The schedule may occasionally vary.
Planning and Operations Office
1011 E. Kerr Avenue, Urbana
The office is east of the intersection of Cunningham Avenue and Kerr Avenue.
The board conducts regular business at each meeting. There is time for public comment at the beginning of the meeting. Members of the public are asked to submit a card with their name and address and indicate whether they wish to address the board. Comments are kept to two minutes. The board will not be able to respond to comments during the meeting but comments are entered into the minutes and the board may be able to address comments at a later time.
The Board of Commissioners conducts regular business of the park district. There is a public comment time, usually at the beginning of the meeting. If you wish to make a comment, please complete a comment card available at each meeting. You may choose to address the board regarding your comment. However, the board will not be able to directly respond to that comment during the meeting.
Youth Scholarships
Scholarships are available based on financial need and fund availability. Please keep the following in mind when applying for a scholarship:
- The Urbana Park District Financial Aid program is available for those residing within the park district limits. Residency is based on taxes paid to the park district; therefore not everyone with an Urbana address is a park district resident. Residents of Urbana who are non-residents of the park district are eligible to apply for a waiver of the non-resident fee.
- The Urbana Park District awards partial scholarships for residents of the Urbana Park District based on financial need and availability of funds. Scholarships are available as funds permit. No full discounts will be awarded. This allows for more people to participate.
- Please allow at least 5 business days for your application to be processed. Financial Aid applications must be received at least 2 weeks prior to a program’s deadline.
- You will be contacted by either phone or email as to the status of your request. Being granted assistance does not guarantee your placement in Urbana Park District programs. If assistance is granted, you must follow current registration guidelines and pay your portion of the program fees to be enrolled in the program. You are not registered until your payment is received. There will not be a spot reserved for your child prior to payment received.
- Add all programs you may be interested in. There is no limit to the number of programs you can request per submission. There is no penalty for not registering for a program requested.
- To apply for financial aid, the adult head of household must complete and sign this application.
- The following items are unavailable for financial aid: Urbana Indoor Aquatic Center memberships, adult programs, private swim lessons, sports jerseys, and dog park memberships.
Please include the following with your application:
- Proof of Urbana residency (license, lease, utility bill, medical card, letter from school, etc.)
- Fully completed application form
- Proof of household income such as:
- Two recent pay stubs for each job and each person
- Last month’s bank statement
- Link Card letter
- Stipend letter
- Child Support
- Unemployment
- Self-employment tax forms
- Free/reduced lunch
Under special circumstances, we have the right to ask for Income Tax forms and/or other income information. The Urbana Park District reserves the right to deny any incomplete applications.
Call 217-367-1544 for additional assistance. You can download a scholarship application here in English, Spanish, French, or Mandarin.
The Urbana Park District accepts assistance from Child Care Resource Services (CCRS). CCRS provides working and full-time student parents assistance with child care. This can assist with park district programs such as CU Around Town, Holiday Camp, Spring Break Day Camp, and summer day camp. It is your responsibility to contact CCRS and get the proper paperwork turned in to them.
CU Around Town, Holiday Camp, Spring Break Day Camp
CCRS approval letters are required at time of registration. Any copayment will be due before the class begins.
Summer Camp
Deposits: We require a $10 deposit per child per session of day camp. Your child will not be enrolled in any session until we receive the deposit. The deposits will be refunded to you at the end of the summer as long as the attendance requirements have been met (see below).
Attendance Policy: Your child must attend 80% of every week they are enrolled in. That is 4 out of 5 days per week. If this attendance policy is not met, CCRS will not pay for the camp, and the responsibility for full payment will be yours. Your $10 deposits for the entire summer will be forfeited in order to assist in that payment.
You have until 4pm the Friday before a session begins to notify us of a cancellation. That allows us to withdraw your child from that camp before it starts. Once a camp session starts, the 80% attendance is required.
CCRS Approval Letter or Payment in Full: We require either your CCRS approval letter or payment by the Thursday before each week of camp. Your child will not be allowed to attend without one or the other. If we do not receive payment by noon the Friday before, your child will be dropped from the following week of camp. We will require full payment for every week until we receive your approval letter for the Urbana Park District. Once we receive your approval, you will be refunded all overpayments made, minus your copay.
Because we will be requiring payment in full, it is best if you put in your change of provider, add a provider, or redetermination as early as possible.
Call 217-367-1544 for additional assistance.
Residents living within the boundaries of the Park District regularly support park facilities and programs through property taxes. People living within the boundaries of the Urbana and Champaign Park Districts pay the resident —R— fees. Acceptable documents that prove current residency include:
- utility bill
- home-owner’s or auto insurance bill
- cable bill
- bank statement
- vehicle registration
- voter registration card
If in doubt about whether your document is acceptable, ask a staff person. Call 217-367-1544.
Residency for Purposes of Urbana Indoor Aquatic Center Membership
The Urbana Indoor Aquatic Center is a joint venture of the Urbana School District and Urbana Park District. Those who reside within the Urbana School District boundaries or the Urbana Park District boundaries or both are considered residents for the purposes of membership for the Urbana Indoor Aquatic Center. There is no reciprocal agreement with Champaign Park District for this facility.
Nonresidents
The Urbana Park District has established a nonresident —NR— fee system in order to equalize payments by individuals residing outside of the park district boundaries, so they will contribute to the overall financing of the park system on an equitable basis with residents. The Urbana Park District offers three options for nonresident program fees:
- Individuals may pay 1.5 times the resident fee.
- Individuals residing immediately adjacent to Urbana Park District boundaries have the option of annexing their property into the district. For more information, call 217-367-1536.
- Purchase an Urbana Park District annual park membership, which is good from May 1–April 30 (not prorated). This membership fee is computed based on the assessed value of the participant’s property using the current Urbana Park District tax rate. The membership fee for rented properties is $100 per fiscal year. Ask a Phillips Recreation Center staff member for additional information. These memberships do not qualify you as a resident for purposes of Urbana Indoor Aquatic Center Memberships.
Reciprocal Agreement
The Urbana Park District and Champaign Park District have a reciprocal agreement. A resident of one district can participate in programs at the other district at the resident rate.
For programs with limited enrollment, nonresidents may register on the third day of registration. Residents of the district offering the program will receive priority to register during the first three days of registration. Not applicable to the Urbana Indoor Aquatic Center.
