Urbana Park District workers are excited to show off all the renovations and improvements to Crystal Lake Park, and we invite the public to an Open Road Celebration at the park on October 3, from Noon – 4 p.m.

The park district has long regarded our oldest park as a destination for the community and region. Through careful planning and community input, we were able to bring about a visionary project to upgrade and modernize the Crystal Lake Park.

Since 2019, contracted workers have cleared brush along the water’s edge and replaced it with native plantings, refurbished the pavilion area and installed a new, accessible playground.

On October 3, we will close the park road to vehicle traffic throughout the day but parking will still be available at the lake house, pool, and overflow lots. We invite all to walk, run, bike or roll the open road through the park.  The Urvana Mobile Recreation Unit, food and other activities will be available beginning at noon.

Park district staff will be on hand at the large pavilion to hear public feedback on the open road, including the possibility of making the road more accessible to pedestrian, bike and rolling traffic in the future.  Staff will also be seeking input on the Crystal Lake Park Master Plan Update which includes future planning and project initiatives within the park such as a new pavilion at the Anita Purves Nature Center. 

Those attending the event can provide feedback and comment in person, or an online comment form begins before the October 3rd event, and will close three weeks later on October 24th.  More information and the comment form can be found at: https://www.urbanaparks.org/parks/crystal-lake-park-rehabilitation-project/.

If you haven’t been to Crystal Lake Park since 2019, we invite you to check it out October 3. You won’t recognize the place! If you are a regular visitor to the park, please come out to explore and connect to the park and give us your feedback.

Everyone is welcome to Crystal Lake Park. We look forward to seeing you on October 3.

Timothy Bartlett

Executive Director, Urbana Park District