Category: Planning & Development Department News

STEM Day at Hedge POP! Park

On June 23, 2023, the Equity and Engagement Department was joined by staff from multiple City Departments to host a STEM Day at Hedge POP! Park. This event was hosted to promote STEM activities, engage children in the Garden Hills neighborhood, and provide educational resources to residents in the community. The event was supported by […]


Campus-Community Compact

On June 21, 2023 was the launch of the Campus-Community Compact to Accelerate Social Justice (Compact) Convening. In response to Chancellor Jones’ Call-To-Action against racism and social injustice in July 2020, the Community Action and Public Engagement (CAPE) Committee established the Compact, comprised of a diverse group of leaders from both the campus and the […]


“Ice Pops with a Cop” Event Held at Hedge Pop! Park

On June 6, 2023, Champaign Police were joined by staff from multiple City departments to host “Ice Pops with a Cop” at the Hedge Pop! Park. This first-time event featured hundreds of popsicles and fun activities for police personnel, city staff, and children from the Garden Hills neighborhood, along with an opportunity for the kids […]


Summer Kickoff Celebration at Hedge Pop Park

On May 26, 2023, the City of Champaign came together to host a Summer Kickoff Celebration at Hedge Pop Park. The City’s Equity and Engagement Department, with the assistance and support of the Police, Planning, Public Works, and Neighborhood Services Departments were there to make sure this was the best event possible. Multiple Blueprint partners, community organizations, […]


Garden Hills Hedge POP! Park Refresh

The Hedge POP! Park is receiving a refresh ahead of the summer months. Last week, City Staff from the Planning and Development, Neighborhood Services Department and Engineering Division worked with dedicated volunteers from First Followers and about 10 neighborhood kids to spread mulch, place planter boxes, pick up liter and also have some fun! More […]


City Staff Celebrate International Women’s Day

On March 8, 202, International Women’s Day (IWD) was celebrated around the world. This day is a focal point in the women’s rights movement, bringing attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women. The theme of IWD 2023 was #EmbraceEquity, a campaign to get the world talking about […]


Hedge POP! Park Featured by American Planning Association 

The American Planning Association is a not-for-profit professional association for planners and has over 40,000 members.  The APA recently took note of the City’s efforts with the Hedge POP! Park and sought to have the effort featured as part of their Equity in Practice series. The blog post features the experience of the City in […]


Halloween on Hedge x Dia de los Muertos a Success

On October 22, 2022, the Planning and Development Department coordinated Halloween on Hedge x Dia de los Muertos, the final programming celebration of the season at Hedge POP! Park. Multiple departments, including Planning and Development, Public Works, Equity and Engagement, Neighborhood Services, Fire, and Police, came together to celebrate the community and all things spooky! […]


Neighborhood Youth Provide Input on Future Park Space for Garden Hills

Staff from Planning and Development, Neighborhood Services, and the Public Works Departments recently visited Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in the Garden Hills Neighborhood to work with the Youth Group. As a continuation from last week’s design session held at Hedge POP! Park, City staff engaged the youth with a “Build Your Own Park” activity, […]


Garden Hills Residents Share Preferences for Permanent Park Space on Hedge Road

Garden Hills residents were invited to the Hedge POP! Park on August 4, 2022, to share their preferences for what should go into the design of a permanent park space at the future Garden Hills Drainage Basin. The area that will be set aside for permanent park space was staked off so residents could understand […]