All Parks and Recreation Content
Area towns announce Christmas tree collection plans
Area towns plan to collect their residents' discarded Christmas trees during the next few weeks.
The Danville Public Works Department website says holiday greenery will be picked up for two weeks, beginning Dec. 31 and continuing through Jan. 11.
Crystal Lake work ahead of schedule
URBANA — Construction of what is now a $9.1 million family aquatic center at Crystal Lake Park, aided by relatively mild and dry weather, is ahead of schedule, according to the director of the Urbana Park District.
The aquatic center is projected to open next June 1 on the same site as two earlier versions of Crystal Lake Pool, a facility that dates to 1927.
Paxton park board to decide in January on dog park
PAXTON — The board plans to decide in January whether to move forward with a proposed dog park at Coady Park.
Last weekend, the board met at Coady Park with a group of residents, known as the Paxton Dog Park Committee, who are requesting the dog park. While there, the two groups toured the park and discussed three options for the size of the fenced-in facility.
Carle Park pavilion renovation completed
URBANA — The rehabilitation of the iconic pavilion at Carle Park — at least the third such project in its nearly 100-year history — has been completed at a cost of about $270,000.
Ironically, the structural changes to the pavilion are meant to keep people out of it.
Environmental Almanac: Good things happening at Homer Lake
How do you make a well-loved forest preserve even better?
One way is to develop it. Toward that end, the Champaign County Forest Preserve District recently completed installation of what's called a natural playscape at Homer Lake. The playscape differs from a typical playground in that it uses natural materials — plants, boulders, logs and earth mounds — rather than plastic and metal.
Chanute Air Museum turns finances around
The Chanute Air Museum has gone from being in danger of closure because of poor finances just two years ago to having money in the bank.
Nancy Kobel, museum board president, credits the board as well as staff and volunteers for the turnaround.
"We are operating in the black," Kobel said. "I'm thrilled about that."
Pontious outlines plans for $30 million multisport facility in northwest Champaign
CHAMPAIGN — Richard Pontious, who is seeking to build a $30 million multisport complex in Champaign's Clearview subdivision, said he got the idea from watching his brother's family travel for games.
Chanute Museum improvements include base timeline, DC-9 flight simulator
RANTOUL — The 1921 photo shows a dog with a parachute on its back, lazing happily on the ground at Chanute Field — Bing the fox terrier, one of the first military dogs to parachute from an airplane.
Champaign police investigate why officer shot at dogs
CHAMPAIGN — Kathy Saathoff is most anxious to find out why a Champaign police officer felt the need to break up a dog fight Saturday with a gun.
Police Chief Anthony Cobb said members of his department are working to find out the same thing.
Entertainment listings, Nov. 15-23
A listing of events, provided by the venues. In case of an error, please click here to email online editor Mike Howie.
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