Visiting Champaign-Urbana Area Parks and Playgrounds with your Family

When you want to play outside with your children, you have dozens of parks to choose from around the Champaign-Urbana area

Take a quick drive through any portion of Champaign, Urbana, Savoy, Mahomet and many other towns nearby and you will see green space and playground equipment every few minutes. We are fortunate to have so many parks and playgrounds to choose from when we want to head outside with our children to move our bodies, get fresh air and have some fun.

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According to a 2018 clinical report shared by the American Academy of Pediatrics, “children need to develop a variety of skill sets to optimize their development and manage toxic stress.” Play helps regulate the body’s stress response. Outdoor play, specifically, gives the opportunity to improve sensory integration skills, and physical play (like you find on a playground) promotes an active lifestyle and many opportunities to hone social skills while playing among other children.

Below we break down many of our favorite parks by town. Click on the name of the park to jump to the information about that facility. We also include outdoor playspaces and generally great places to spend time together outside as a family.

RELATED: Looking for more specific information on parks? You can click the link for each park below or find parks without playgrounds here; find mess-free playgrounds here. We also have a list of the best parks for babies and toddlers.

Jump to playgrounds in:

Champaign | Urbana | Savoy | Mahomet | Beyond

Champaign

Beardsley Park

1006 N. Walnut St.

A neighborhood park first established in 1874, Beardsley Park boasts some neat features like a suspended rubber platform, small climbing wall, teeter totter and more. The play equipment is geared toward younger kids but early elementary kids may find it enjoyable as well.

… read more about Beardsley Park

Interactive play at Beardsley Park in Champaign.

Commissioner’s Park

902 Glen Abbey Dr.

This new neighborhood park offers the opportunity for people to practice team sports like basketball and soccer. There is one medium-sized play structure geared towards kids of all ages instead of two separate structures (younger/older). Bring anything with wheels as your kids can scoot or race around the path on your visit.

… read more about Commissioner’s Park

Shaded play structure at Commissioner’s Park in Champaign.

Douglass Park

512 E. Grove St.

As if a splash pad, basketball courts and a huge playground wasn’t enough, Douglass Park features Champaign’s only “fitness trail.” This walking path is lined with pods of outdoor fitness equipment, like a cardio stepper, mobility station and stretching area, to name a few.

… read more about Douglass Park

Mom Review: Douglass Park in Champaign on www.chambanamoms.com — Douglass Park in Champaign.

Eisner Park

1301 W. Church St.

This all-inclusive playground is compliant with the American with Disabilities Act, has sensory-stations throughout and features tennis courts, basketball hoops and a batting cage.

… read more about Eisner Park

ADA compliant play structure at Eisner Park.

Glenn Park

400 N. Mattis Ave.

With a trio of slides, a climbing wall, a drum to bang and lots of other appealing elementary-age equipment, Glenn Park is well worth the visit to this neighborhood park.

… read more about Glenn Park

Glenn Park Champaign — The playground updates at Glenn Park features a smaller structure designed for ages 2-5.

Henry Michael Park

3802 Freedom Blvd.

Newly opened in 2019, this playground has lots of fun, interactive features especially geared toward younger park patrons. The interconnected shapes and suspended seats give a unique twist to typical playground equipment. Being on the edge of town, this park is usually less busy than others.

… read more about Henry Michael Park

Hessel Park

1400 Grandview Dr.

Hessel Park offers expansive playground equipment for the youngest of park-goers to older children, tweens and teens. You’ll find the famous parent/baby swings here, in addition to a splash pad (summer months only), a lengthy walking path and ample green space.

… read more about Hessel Park

Separate play structures for older and younger children at Hessel Park.

Morrissey Park

1209 Harrington Dr.

New playground pieces, an enlarged sand box and a modern merry go-round (just be careful on it!) make Morrissey the fun park destination that it is. Pack a picnic, too!

… read more about Morrissey Park

Mullikin Park

4506 Stonebridge Dr.

This southwest Champaign neighborhood park has a play structure and swings for toddlers, a halfcourt basketball court for those a little older (10-foot rim), an area for sand play, and a small pavilion for anyone seeking a little shade nearby to watch all of this unfold.

… read more about Mullikin Park

Sandbox at Mullikin Park — Sand play at Mullikin Park.

Noel Park

1134 Sterling Dr.

This Champaign Park District neighborhood park got a renovation in 2019. Featuring interconnected pathways, new playground equipment and some very unique pieces of playground equipment, this definitely qualifies for “hidden gem” in Champaign.

… read more about Noel Park

Porter Park

2310 S. Rising Road

This huge park is bordered by open fields, making it seem even larger than it is. The park features paved paths and an accessible playground, in addition to tree stumps your kids can play on.

… read more about Porter Park

Sunset Ridge Park

3907 Boulder Ridge Dr.

Overlooking miles of farmland, Sunset Ridge Park offers lots of unique fun, like tennis courts, a skate park, extra-wide walking paths and the eye-catching play structure of which your kids will become enamored.

… read more about Sunset Ridge Park

Turnberry Ridge Park

910 Cobblefield Road

The main structure at this playground is designed for kids ages 5-12, with preschoolers typically navigating it safely, too. Settled among wood mulch, these play structures are going to provide some fun for your family.

Get to know Turnberry Ridge Park in West Champaign on Chambanamoms.com — Playground equipment at Turnberry Ridge Park in Champaign.

West Side Park

400 W. University Ave.

Footsteps from Downtown Champaign, West Side Park is a beautiful property with rich history and lots of fun. The gated playground is popular for parents of young children (and mulch-free, too). You’ll find a larger play structure for older kids as well. Catch annual events, like the Taste of C-U, at West Side each year.

… read more about West Side Park

Zahnd Park

2502 S. Staley Road

Relatively small in terms of equipment, there’s a lot of space to spread out at Zahnd Park. If your kids play organized sports, you may find yourself here for practices or games but any time is a good time to visit the park. Bonus: There are indoor bathrooms here (hours they are open may very seasonally).

… read more about Zahnd Park

More Parks with Playgrounds in Champaign

Bristol Park, 1300 N. Market St. *temporarily closed; under construction*
Clark Park, 900 S. McKinley Ave.
Davidson Park, 1108 W. Church St.
Garden Hills Park, 1701 Bloomington Road
Hazel Park, 1209 N. Neil St.
Helms Park, 475 S. Second St.
Johnston Park, 701 Goldenview Dr.
Millage Park, 2802 Cherry Creek Road
Powell Park, 3212 Clayton Road
Robeson Meadows West Park, 2865 S. Duncan Road
Robeson Park, 1984 S. Duncan Road
Scott Park, 207 E. Springfield Ave.
Spalding Park, 900 Harris Ave.
Toalson Park, 502 Bardeen Lane
Wesley Park, 915 N. Third St.

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Urbana

AMBUCS Park

1776 E. Washington St.

This highly accessible playground just off University Avenue in Urbana is full of structures children can walk (or roll) right up to experience. Families who have someone with a disability will especially appreciate a lot of the thoughtful features found at this park.

… read more about AMBUCS Park

Wooden trail play structure at Ambucs Park.

Busey Woods

1505 N. Broadway Ave.

More “nature” than playground, Busey Woods is a great place to get outside that we can’t overlook. These are some of the safest trails you’ll find in the area to navigate with wheelchairs, mobility aids or strollers. Enjoy the woods from the elevated boardwalk walking trail or let your kids venture “off road” and explore.

… read more about Busey Woods

A wide, elevated walking path through Busey Woods.

Carle Park

400 W. Indiana Ave.

This historical Urbana park is a “best kept secret” and one of our favorite places to see the fall leaves. The playground is geared toward older children; younger children will just need to be more closely supervised here as there’s still plenty for them to do.

… read more about Carle Park

Carle Park spider web — The Carle Park spiderweb climbing structure.

Crystal Lake Park

206 W. Park St.

Crystal Lake Park is a lot more then a playground. Fishing, sledding, nature walks and more await at the huge park in Urbana. Look for sand volleyball courts and tons of benches and picnic areas throughout the park itself.

… read more about Crystal Lake Park

The boats at Crystal Lake Park, Urbana — The boats at Crystal Lake Park.

Friendship Grove Nature Playscape

1505 N. Broadway Ave.

“Get dirty” and “touch it all” are two of the guidelines when playing at Friendship Grove, outside the Anita Purves Nature Center in Urbana. Urbana’s own playscape is made of natural materials to engage children of all ages in creative, free play.

Get to Know Busey Friendship Grove in Urbana on Chambanamoms.com — Get dirty at Friendship Grove.

Meadowbrook Park

2808 S. Race St.

Meadowbrook Park has probably caught your eye when you’ve driven past it on Windsor Road in Urbana. The classic wooden play structure is a favorite among area children. There’s also miles of paved walking trails, a wide-open field for kite flying and picnics and beautiful sculptures lining the trails.

… read more about Meadowbrook Park

The majestic wooden play structure at Meadowbrook Park.

Sunnycrest Tot Lot

503 Sunnycrest Court, E

Have a toddler? Great! Sunnycrest Tot Lot is a great fit for them. With infant-only swings, ride-on animals and a generally quiet zone to play, we think you’ll find this neighborhood playground to be some fun times for your young child.

… read more about Sunnycrest Tot Lot

More Parks with Playgrounds in Urbana

Blair Park, 1406 S. Broadway Ave.
Crestview Park, 1802 S. Cottage Grove Ave.
King Park, 915 W. Wascher Dr.
Larson Park, 1005 E. McHenry
South Ridge Park, 3008 S. Myra Ridge Dr.
Victory Park, 1000 E. Green St.

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Savoy

Colbert Park

203 E. Church St.

In addition to being one of our favorite playgrounds in the area, Colbert Park features Champaign-Urbana’s first “Born Learning Trail,” with signs like “Go run up the hill, like Jack and Jill.” It’s a beautiful, expansive park with picnic tables and a natural, thoughtful aesthetic.

… read more about Colbert Park

Prairie Fields Park

200 Prairie Rose Lane

Sports fields surround this playground that features a rock climbing wall, two age-appropriate play structures and a tic-tac-toe game, to name a few.

… read more about Prairie Fields Park

More Parks with Playgrounds in Savoy

John L. Jones Park, 310 W. Church St.

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Mahomet

Top Six Parks in Mahomet

Our six favorite parks in Mahomet are Lake of the Woods, Bridle Leash Park, Brent Johnson Park, Water Tower Park, 13 Acres Park and the Riverbend Forest Preserve. We share a little on each park in the post below.

Lake of the Woods

109 S. Lake of the Woods Road

Owned and operated by the Champaign County Forest Preserve District, Lake of the Woods features a playground (off the entrance on Lake of the Woods Road), botanical gardens (off the entrance on Route 47), fishing spots, sledding hills, miles of paved walking/biking paths and tons of green space. Lake of the Woods is a popular Champaign-Urbana “nature escape” for all these reasons and more.

… read more about Lake of the Woods

More Parks with Playgrounds in Mahomet

13 Acres Park, 302 W. Dunbar St.
Brent Johnson Park, 1202 E. Oak Valley Road
Bridle Leash Park, 906 W. Dianne Lane
Brooks Warfel Park, 405 E. Dunbar

Visiting Parks in Communities Beyond Champaign-Urbana

There are lots of great parks just a short drive from Champaign-Urbana. Here’s a round-up of some you might want to visit next time you go for a drive.

When you want to play outside with your children, you have dozens of parks to choose from around the Champaign-Urbana area

Jump to playgrounds in:

Champaign | Urbana | Savoy | Mahomet | Beyond

Champaign

More Parks with Playgrounds in Champaign

Urbana

AMBUCS Park

More Parks with Playgrounds in Urbana

Savoy

More Parks with Playgrounds in Savoy

Mahomet

More Parks with Playgrounds in Mahomet

Visiting Parks in Communities Beyond Champaign-Urbana

PLAYGROUND MAP

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