Over the course of a yr, give or take, I’ve made newbie, and hopefully decently entertaining, assessments about each single park in Champaign, Urbana, and Savoy. Moreover, I did the identical for our Champaign County Forest Preserves and our “metropolis parks” — that are inexperienced areas and small plazas owned by the municipalities.
This was no small job, and I’m glad that I did it. In spite of everything, it might curiosity you to know that when my buddy Mason Kessinger (one of many co-founders of Smile Politely) and I sat down to start out speaking about what kind of content material {a magazine} like this one would possibly include, this was one of many concepts on our listing that ranked the best. We needs to be the type of journal that might assess after which rank each single park on this metropolis. In spite of everything, that is vital cultural data!
A metropolis is oftentimes outlined by its parks. Consider the final time you went to a brand new metropolis and got down to discover it? Wasn’t it true that you simply scoped out their “central” park to see if it was price your time? I positive hope so. They’re the glue that binds a neighborhood collectively; a collectively funded and maintained plot of land with facilities to serve the general public and welcome guests from all corners. That is what creates the shared house that permits us to really feel as if we’re a neighborhood.
Right here in Champaign-Urbana, we’re blessed with a whole lot of nice parks to discover and luxuriate in. That is the excellent news. The unhealthy information is that there are doubtless too many parks for them to take care of correctly, and that’s largely true in Champaign, which has a bloated system for taxation, and a company neighborhood that doesn’t place a premium on the required funding it might require. For the historical past of the Park District, the native park board has been dominated by conservative Republicans who’ve actively discovered methods to keep away from elevating cash by way of tax referendum, and who haven’t accomplished the laborious work to construct a company and personal funding mannequin that might enhance and develop the parks system within the methods it ought to have.
However there’s nonetheless a lot to have a good time. And have a good time them we’ll over the following week! But when we’re going to assign glory to our greatest parks, now we have to additionally outline and showcase our worst parks as nicely.
I want to make a really essential level proper now: the folks that run our park districts, and who do the laborious work to take care of and promote the packages inside them, do a outstanding job working with lower than they need to must succeed. Hats off to Joe DeLuce and Timothy Bartlett, of CPD and UPD respectively, together with their govt workers and workers working alongside them.
If it looks as if I’ve been harsh at occasions, that’s as a result of I felt it was not price it to jot down virtually 100 entries merely speaking about every park as if there have been no pitfalls inside them or the system that funds them. If I wrote issues about doing mushrooms or ingesting Zima within the parks as a wild-eyed youth, it’s as a result of it was true and I like these reminiscences and wished to share my experiences with you. If I upset anybody as a result of they did not really feel I had accomplished sufficient analysis on one thing or appeared into this or that, I can safely inform these folks to chill out; please showcase your personal article collection of this type to me whenever you get to it. Trying ahead to studying it!
Because of these of you who mentioned good issues to me alongside the way in which, or who shared the articles on social media. I’m off social media virtually utterly now. It isn’t one thing I’m constructed for any longer, and actually, I do not suppose I ever was.
Anyhow, Worst to First, Half 1 — #82 – #51 begins proper now!
Picture by Maddie Rice.
Picture by Maddie Rice. 82. Town Center Park, Champaign
That is the worst park in all of Champaign-Urbana. I cordially invite you to go there a while and think about for those who agree, or if you don’t agree. You possibly can electronic mail me about it at sethfein@smilepolitely.com and we will talk about over espresso or an iced tea.
81. Dohme Park, Savoy
Sheesh, a person speaks just a few laborious truths in regards to the political make up of Savoy’s governance and also you’d suppose I would talked some mad shit about their mother and father. Look, it is not a lot that this can be a horrible park, it is in regards to the historical past of the way it got here to go, and why it is not something greater than what it’s.
80. Skelton Park, Champaign
This one is an actual disgrace; it sits on the nook of Washington and First in Midtown Champaign on the very northern fringe of what they wish to name the “Historic First Avenue District.” Extra particularly, this was the Black neighborhood’s enterprise district, and it has been uncared for for many years, and — shockingly! — the Metropolis determined it might be the proper spot to construct their new police station. This park needs to be the beacon of gatherings and artwork and tradition for a renewed district, with significant monetary investments comprised of not simply the Park District, however from the Metropolis itself. As a result of they goddamned owe it to this neighborhood… for starters.
79. Bannon Park, Champaign
This isn’t actually a park. It’s a plot of grass with a sculpture. It isn’t a nasty sculpture, however there’s actually no individual that seeks this park out exterior of those that work on the Blue Line Constructing. And that’s good, I like that — but it surely’s not an excellent park.
78. Wisegarver Park, Champaign
That is now the positioning of what’s going to be a model new Okay-8 Worldwide Prep Academy, so it type of will get the boot this low based mostly solely on the truth that it’s defunct for the second. No sick will actually, simply needed to put it someplace, and I made a decision it might be #78.
77. Turnberry Ridge Park, Champaign
This park made me really feel sorta bizarre after I spotted it was most likely named after a golf course now owned by Donald “The Human” Trump. There’s nothing incorrect with it actually, but it surely’s not something particular and the connectivity is awkward for me.
Picture by Maddie Rice.
76. Canaday Park, Urbana
This park sits on land that overlooks the Champaign County Jail. So, I would not classify it as an excellent park, actually. It is received a pleasant outdated Little League area although? All the time an excellent factor.
75. Commissioner’s Park, Champaign
I like the scale of this park, and its potential, however I preserve that it was constructed prematurely and can find yourself benefitting Judah Christian College greater than anybody else, and since these fuckers do not pay taxes, and since they’re actually liable for placing youth at risk, I do not like this park for these causes.
74. Henry Michael Park, Champaign
This park is a snoozer for positive. It might be the proper spot for a canine park, or a spot to do one thing attention-grabbing. Nevertheless it is not, so it is listed right here on this spot.
73. Millage Park, Champaign
It isn’t a lot that I do not like this little park; I sorta do prefer it. What I do not like is that it’s located actually two small blocks from Hallbeck Park, and I suppose I’m simply bummed out that there are two parks inside an honest tee shot from each other, neither of which have all that a lot to supply, when there are such a lot of different parks in our neighborhood that want consideration.
72. Hallbeck Park, Champaign
See above. It is advantageous, this park. A extremely good place to fly a kite, I feel. However there’s not a lot else to it. Additionally, the developed of this neighborhood and the donor of the park was named Josef Hallbeck. As a Jewish man, it simply… feels too, I dunno. One thing.
71. Chief Shemauger Park, Urbana
Urbana does a pleasant job with actually virtually all of its parks, since they’ve so few to take care of relative to the scale of the neighborhood. However this one is fairly forgettable, if I’m being sincere. With Crystal Lake down the highway, this one actually is not an possibility for me.
70. John L. Jones Park, Savoy
It is a regular, boring park in Savoy, and that makes it type of meh.
69. Washington Park, Champaign
What a disgrace that this is not really the Central Park of Campustown. I get the explanation why Champaign Park District cannot sock a bunch of cash into it, in fact. The Acacia Home would simply hold fucking it up, I get that. However perhaps there is a technique to have all these homes take possession of it and beautify it and put some programming in it? I feel some extra considerate effort right here would go a good distance.
68. Willis Park, Champaign
This is without doubt one of the oldest parks in Champaign, but it surely’s not likely a park, it’s a inexperienced house that bisects… Willis Ave. between Maple and Eureka. I just like the timber, but it surely may use just a few chess tables or sculptures.
67. McCollum Park, Champaign
What a technique to honor the previous Mayor of Champaign and his mom, an important particular person to ever hail from Champaign as regards to public training. Modified the entire damned nation, and for the higher, they usually get a protracted plot of grass with a bizarre metallic peacock sculpture that’s not accessible in any approach? Yeesh.
Picture by Maddie Rice.
66. Bridgewater Park, Champaign
Identical deal right here, in a whole lot of methods, to the above entry about McCollum Park. It is advantageous that this can be a house to honor Erma Bridgewater, however I feel it may use somewhat love!
65. Stampofski Park, Champaign
I’m joyful this park exists as a result of it’s distinctive for our metropolis, but it surely’s not sufficient for it to rank a lot larger than this with all the opposite nice parks under it.
64. Thompson Park, Champaign
This park has a lot potential, however once more, that is about funding and sources. I hate to interrupt it to you — “you” being the one that whines and complains about property taxes: your life won’t be affected by chipping in an additional $50 or no matter a yr to make our parks extra stunning. You’ve got let your loved ones down, once more.
63. Powell Park, Champaign
There may be nothing incorrect with this park, however identical deal: it is forgettable and as such, it lands within the backside half of this listing. Backside line: Champaign both has too many parks or would not have the funding and sources to handle all of them in a approach that they deserve. You be the decide!
62. Judge Webber Park, Urbana
Talking of judges: since this isn’t actually open to the general public, it is not likely a park that needs to be “judged.” Hiyo! However for actual, you’ll be able to be part of the archer’s affiliation that leases the house, and that’s open to the general public, and that’s fairly superior so, it ranks larger than a few of the above.
61. Meadow Squares Park, Champaign
Nothing a lot to see right here, however not a nasty little plot of a park in west Champaign. Simply nothing to get too enthusiastic about.
60. Johnston Park, Champaign
OK, #60! Now we will begin moving into a few of the higher parks now we have on the town, and Johnston Park is a fairly first rate one, really. It is comparatively nameless and it was one of many ones that I actually had no thought existed till I began this undertaking. I preferred it! Not as a lot as a few of the others, as you’ll be able to see, however a very nice open house to spend time doing issues with different folks, or simply by your self.
59. Toalson Park, Champaign
Lastly made it out to this park, and for being as new as it’s, you’ll be able to really feel it is potential. As a result of it was named for Robert Toalson, who was Government Director of the CPD for a whopping 31 years, I’m giving this one larger marks than a few of the others which might be just like it.
Picture by Maddie Rice.
58. Hosier Memorial Garden, Champaign
Once more, not likely a park, however a plot of land subsequent to the freeway (sure, Neil St. is a freeway) and the CPD does an superior job curating it and making it stunning so it will get some kudos from me.
57. Burwash Park, Savoy
I’ve an affinity for Burwash Park, largely as a result of I coached my first Peanut League recreation right here, and I feel Savoy did a fairly good job with the facilities on this one. Sand volleyball! Keep in mind, nobody is gonna say a lot for those who deliver out a cooler of White Claws and have yourselves a jolly good time on a sizzling summer season day.
56. Firefighter’s Park, Champaign
That is ranked as excessive as it’s as a result of I actually love that it feels just like the type of “park” that belongs in a metropolis. It is just a bit nook with outdated shady timber, and sitting areas, and good landscaping. I want there have been extra of those, fairly frankly.
55. Bian Park, Champaign
Leo Bian! The person was a legend apparently, and this park has one thing about it that I preferred rather a lot. It’s near Maynard Lake, which is without doubt one of the truest hidden gems in Champaign, however I feel I similar to that there is water on this park, and it feels actually quaint even being so near a serious highway. I like to recommend it!
54. Mullikin Park, Champaign
Mullikin Park feels just like Bian Park in some methods. It is small, and primary, however there was only a good feeling to the spot. I dunno… these rankings are so deeply subjective that this might have been like #72 or #63 or #54. However that is the place I put it!
53. Southridge Park, Urbana
Admittedly, I feel this one is ranked too excessive, however I even have a private reminiscence hooked up to it (which you’ll learn for those who click on that hyperlink) and as such, I take pleasure in my time right here on the uncommon event that I am going.
52. Champaign Bark District, Champaign
You can read our editorial about dog parks in Champaign-Urbana here. We aren’t doing a adequate job participating the entire canine homeowners on this neighborhood. It’s a crying disgrace.
51. Urbana Dog Park, Urbana
See above.
COMING WEDNESDAY: Worst to First, 50 – 21.
