Visit Friendship Grove in Urbana

A truly unique space tucked in the heart of Urbana, the Friendship Grove Nature Playscape is a spot your children will want to return to over and over again

Playground meets the middle of the woods, Friendship Grove has the convenience of a city playground in one of the most peaceful settings you’ll find in Champaign-Urbana

What makes a playscape different than a playground? Your kids will show you as soon as you arrive at the Friendship Grove playscape! We love playgrounds, but we also love trips to our nearby forest preserves. This Urbana Park District location combines both of the things we love into an ultra-convenient, heart of C-U location.

The Friendship Grove Nature Playscape is positioned next to Busey Woods and the well-established Anita Purves Nature Center at 1505 N. Broadway Ave. in Urbana. This was all made possible thanks to the vision of the Urbana Park District (UPD). Fundraising and generous donations helped the dream become a reality.

Why a playscape?

According to the Urbana Park District’s website:

Research shows that children who play in natural settings play in more diverse, imaginative, and creative ways and show improved language and collaboration skills. Unlike single-use play equipment, nature play offers endless variety and opportunities for multi-sensory exploration, as children learn about the natural world in a wide variety of ways. The park district’s nature-inspired, child-driven playscape will foster creative play among visitors of all ages and abilities as they make discoveries and interact with their environment.

Regular contact with nature is associated with:

Increased physical activity

Improved creativity and problem solving

Enhanced ability to focus

Reduced symptoms of ADD

Better academic performance

Better social relations

Improved self-control

It doesn’t look like a traditional park. By definition, a nature playscape is a living place that allows a child to play freely. In fact, Homer Lake has an established naturescape—read about it! You won’t see metal equipment or plastic slides here. Rather, natural materials are used to create areas to feed a child’s imagination. It works, too.

According to the UPD, this unique and interactive naturescape engages children of all ages (climbing features are intended for ages 5-12) in imaginative and active outdoor play. Together, you and your children are immersed in nature as you comfortably explore, experiment, socialize and manipulate the environment. The naturescape provides a multitude of accessible play opportunities for a variety of physical, mental, cognitive and emotional abilities.

Busey Friendship Grove Park in Urbana on Chambanamoms.com — Photo Credit: Emily Harrington.

Each time we visit we see something new, for children had changed the landscape of the area through play. By nature, the playscape will continue to grow, decompose and change over time. Stump chairs had been moved, loose toys had been gathered and bridges or lean-tos had been erected.

Get to Know Busey Friendship Grove in Urbana on Chambanamoms.com — Photo Credit: Emily Harrington.

Tips for parents

Make sure to hang your jacket or coat on one of the provided hooks on your way in. On the way out, there’s an apparatus to free your feet of mud. Plan a lot of time for your visit here! Your kids are going to get dirty anyways, so you might as well make this more than just a brief visit. If you’re planning ahead, you can reserve a FREE fort-building kit; call 217-384-4062 for reservation and loan information.

Use the bathrooms at the nature center as there are none outside. Also, take a walk on the accessible trails at Busey Woods while you are there.

Treat your visit like you’re preparing to go to the woods (because you are). Bug repellant, towels for sand and more will come in handy.

Is Friendship Grove good for toddlers?

There’s something for everyone at the Playscape, but be aware there are climbing features designed for 5-12 year olds. This can be awfully tempting for a curious 2 or 3 year old, and you may or may not want them to attempt these structures.

What other amenities are at Friendship Grove?

Friendship Grove is located on the same Urbana Park District property as Crystal Lake Park, Crystal Lake Park Family Aquatic Center, Anita Purves Nature Center and Busey Woods. Lots to enjoy in one cohesive, spread-out space.

How do I get to Friendship Grove?

Navigate to Anita Purves Nature Center and if you are facing the entrance to the nature center from the parking lot, the playscape is located to the right. The entrance is a metal arbor adorned with hidden animals. The arbor leads you on a wide path dotted with benches. There are picnic tables, too.

The beauty of the naturescape is this—everything looks like it belongs in nature. The arbor, the chairs, the mud scraper—all are made from wood and well designed to flow with the naturescape.

You’ll find various toys scattered everywhere. Everything is up to the child to interpret what they want to do with the space. Just don’t wear good/open-toed shoes (or clothes). It’s all about getting your hands dirty here.