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URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — Around eight months after it closed for renovations, a beloved Urbana Park is finally back open.
The new Prairie Play playground at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana is open to the public from dawn until dusk.
“This is a culmination of a true community effort to replace a beloved playground with a new one accessible to more people,” Tim Bartlett, executive director of Urbana Park District said.
Between 2021 and 2023 the Urbana Park District talked to members of the public about what they would like to replace Prairie Play with. The new playground has climbing structures, zip lines, swings and a music station. It was also designed with accessibility in mind.
Over $1.1 million was raised to fund the project. An official open house to celebrate the playground will be held on May 3, 2025.
“The park district is grateful to our donors, the Urbana Parks Foundation, the Urbana Park District Advisory Committee, park planners and contractors that built this new playground. It is a beautiful and exciting place to play and we hope the public enjoys it,” Bartlett said.