Background

The construction of the Urbana Park District Health & Wellness Center is coming to Prairie Park in 2023. This facility will offer an array of recreational and wellness opportunities. This construction means removal of the two Prairie Park softball fields. The baseball field and soccer fields will remain.

The park district is taking this opportunity to holistically look at outdoor athletics and wellness opportunities across the district to determine where resources should be used to build new fields/courts or invest into improving existing. It is also an opportunity to take a closer look at the combined Weaver and Prairie parks. The last Weaver Park Master Plan was created in 2005, a time of high athletics participation, and plans for three ball diamonds and nine soccer fields in Weaver Park, along with natural areas. Prairie Park’s Master Plan is much newer, and was created in 2019 during planning for the Health & Wellness Center.

The park district is working with Farnsworth Group Inc., an architecture and engineering firm with experience working with other park agencies on similar needs assessments and master planning. This planning process is expected to wrap up in summer of 2023.

See below to view the existing park master plans:

2005 Weaver Park Master Plan

2019 Prairie Park Master Plan

Community Input

The first round of community input for this project ran from November 23- December 13, 2022 and had nearly 750 responses! There will be other input opportunities in the future, including additional surveys, focus groups, review of draft master plans, and open house-style meetings. To be added to the input notification list, email kadudek@urbanaparks.org.  

Email Kara Dudek-Mizel, Park Planner, at kadudek@urbanaparks.org with questions.

In the News

Tell the Park District your thoughts about the future of athletic courts, fields and amenities.