Weaver and Prairie Parks Planning
Background
The construction of the Urbana Park District Health & Wellness Center in Prairie Park began the Summer of 2023. In addition to the new facility, Prairie Park currently supports baseball and soccer and previously supported softball. As improvements at Prairie Park continue, the district is taking this opportunity to look at outdoor athletics and wellness opportunities district-wide and also to take a closer look at the plans for Weaver and Prairie parks.
The last Weaver Park Master Plan was created in 2005, a time of high athletics participation, and it planned for three ball diamonds and nine soccer fields in Weaver Park, along with natural areas. It is anticipated that this planning process will determine fewer fields are needed, and natural areas will be of greater emphasis. Prairie Park’s Master Plan is much newer, and was created in 2019 during planning for the Health & Wellness Center. The park district has been working with Farnsworth Group Inc., an architecture and engineering firm on updating the two plans and evaluating outdoor and athletics needs district-wide.
During the fall of 2022, the first round of community input for this project included a survey that was distributed to the districts program participants and contacts as well as through Urbana School District contacts. This Outdoor Courts, Fields, and Amenities Survey received approximately 750 responses. In February 2023, two focus groups were held at the Philips Recreation Center to build upon survey responses. One focus group centered specifically on athletic fields, the other more generally on recreation, trails, and natural areas. The district also consulted with its citizen advisory committee and natural areas committee to help establish priorities for the plan updates.
In August 2023, the district hosted a virtual open house meeting to review the two draft concepts and a survey to gather thoughts. At this meeting, the district received additional feedback that prompted an extension of the planning process. To facilitate and help with our ongoing planning efforts, the park district assembled a Stakeholder Steering Committee that includes representatives from different backgrounds. The initial Stakeholder Committee meeting, held October 23, 2023 branched out into four Stakeholder Subcommittees with each having its own focus:
- School & Community Engagement
- Natural Resources & Environment
- Athletics & Active Recreation
- Trails & Kickapoo Rail Trail
The Stakeholder Committee and Subcommittees helped guide our planning efforts through a multi-month planning process. These committees assisted by reviewing site history, assessing current site conditions/ecology, reviewing public input received to date, developing a plan for ongoing and future public input, supporting public engagement, and assisting with reviewing plan updates. The Urbana Park District met frequently with the Stakeholder Committee and Subcommittees over the last year and minutes from these meetings can be found below in the planning documents links.
The School & Community Engagement Subcommittee provided feedback for additional community engagement and the park district initiated multiple engagement opportunities with schools, outreach groups, and park district events. The district engaged with approximately 570 individuals including the following:
- Dr. Preston L. Williams Jr. Elementary School
- Dr. Preston L. Williams Jr. Elementary School Parent and Neighbor Open House
- Urbana Middle School (S.P.L.A.S.H.)
- DREAAM
- Tiger Academy
- Urbana Park District F.R.E.S.H. After School Program
- Urbana Neighborhood Connection Center
The district received extensive feedback on the Weaver & Prairie Parks Master Plans from these meetings and reengaged with the Farnsworth Group to update the draft plans for Weaver & Prairie Parks. Draft plans were reviewed and refined with the Urbana Park District’s Board of Commissioners, Planning Stakeholder Committee, Citizen Advisory Committee, and Natural Areas Committee.
Next Steps
The Urbana Park District is hosting open house opportunities for the public to review and provide feedback on the updated draft master plans on the following dates:
Primary Open House
5:30-7pm Thurs July 18th, Dr Preston Williams Elementary School, 2102 E Washington St.
- Meet with designers, staff, and committee members to review and provide feedback on plans
- Free Food and Drink Provided!
- Pool passes and gift card giveaways!
Alternate Open Houses
- Noon-1:00pm Friday July 19th, UPD Planning and Operations, 1011 E Kerr Ave.
- 5:30-7:00pm, Monday, July 22nd, Brookens Gymnasium, Pod 400, 1776 E Washington St.
Following these open houses, the plans will be updated to reflect community feedback prior to review and acceptance by the Urbana Park District Board of Commissioners
Final Weaver & Prairie Park Master Plans
On Tuesday, August 13th, The Urbana Park District Board of Commissioners have reviewed and accepted master plan 3.0 for Weaver & Prairie Parks.
