Community Encouraged to Avoid Large Gatherings to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19
The City of Champaign will continue to promote public safety by closing the City’s downtown parking lots at Neil & Washington and Walnut & Washington at 9:00 PM on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights through September 6, 2020. This change is in response to large social gatherings that have recently taken place in downtown parking lots.
Weekend visitors to downtown can park in either lot before 9:00 PM and retrieve their vehicles before midnight. At midnight, both parking lots will be secured and vehicles left in the lots cannot be retrieved until 7:00 AM. Drivers needing to park downtown past midnight are encouraged to use the Hill Street Parking Deck located at 123 W. Hill St.
Residents and visitors are reminded that City parking lots are only to be used for activities directly associated with the parking or retrieval of vehicles. Any other use of City parking lots is prohibited including, but not limited to, the consumption of alcohol, gambling, or the sale of goods and services. Carrying open containers of alcohol, or consuming alcohol in parking lots and public roadways, can result in a City Ordinance Violation with a minimum fine of $205 per violation.
The public is also reminded that under Emergency Order 20-17, the City has suspended issuing any special event permits for community events planned in the public right of way in order to limit the spread of COVID-19, including events held in City parking lots. Violations of parking lot rules are subject to prosecution per City of Champaign Ordinances, including Chapter 33, Section 33-73 of the Champaign Municipal Code.
Residents and visitors are reminded that under Governor Pritzker’s Emergency Order, Champaign County is currently in Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan and gatherings of more than 50 people are prohibited. In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, community members are asked to follow all state and local emergency orders and social distancing guidelines, which include the requirement to wear face coverings in public and avoid large gatherings.
The Champaign Municipal Code is available to review on the City’s website at champaignil.gov/CityCode.