GARDEN HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENTS

Improvements to lighting, drainage, pedestrian safety and more are coming to Garden Hills!  Many of these improvements are funded through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds provided by the Federal Government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Through public meetings and surveys, the community voiced strong support for allocating these funds to planned improvements in Garden Hills to complete them more quickly.

NEW! Game Nights Are Coming to Hedge POP! Park (click image to expand):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEW!  There is still time to enroll in the Modified SLEEP program (click image to expand). Visit champaignil.gov\modifiedsleep to enroll online.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Streetlighting Project will start soon.  More information below (click image to expand):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Garden Hills SNAP Update Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 15, 2022 at 6:00 pm via Zoom.  The meeting will recap 2022 SNAP activities and will include reports on the design of Hedge Road, detention basins and future Hedge Park, updates from the Neighborhood Ambassadors, the Police Department and more!  The Zoom link for the meeting is below:

 

Thank you to the Garden Hills neighbors who attended the October 11, 2022 City Council Meeting to help us accept the 2022 Advancing Diversity and Social Change’ Award for our work at Hedge POP! Park.  The award was presented by the American Planning Association – Illinois Chapter (APA-IL).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The American Planning Association – Illinois Chapter (APA-IL) has recognized the City with the 2022 Diversity and Social Change Award for the Hedge POP! Park project.  The project was made possible because YOU, our Garden Hills neighbors, volunteered time and resources to help us build out the park! At the Tuesday, October 11, 2022 City Council Meeting, staff will present a Garden Hills Infrastructure Update and Hedge POP! Park recap.  At the start of the meeting, the ‘2022 Advancing Diversity and Social Change’ Award for Hedge POP! Park to Mayor Feinen.  We are inviting our Garden Hills Neighbors to join us in accepting the award and taking a group photo.  The award presentation should take place right at 7:00 pm.  We look forward to accepting this award with our Garden Hills neighbors!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No Parking on the North Side of Hedge Road.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The City is collaborating with the neighborhood to complete a Strategic Neighborhood Action Plan to coordinate these efforts and maximize the impact of these improvements.  Scroll down to learn more about these efforts and how to become involved.

We need YOUR input on the final design for the drainage basin and park! Spread the word and join the discussion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STAY INFORMED! Register below to receive future updates on meetings, programs, and events for the Garden Hills neighborhood.

Programming is underway for Hedge POP! Park. The Champaign Public Library will bring the award winning children’s literacy program, “Mother Goose on the Loose” to the park Thursday evening from 5-7 pm July 21st through August 11th.  We’ll see you in the park!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neighbors enjoyed the official unveiling of the new Hedge POP! Five-year old Xyiere Algee (pictured with Mayor Feinen below) has been named Mayor of Hedge POP! Park due to his frequent enjoyment of the space. Check out additional photos here: Hedge POP! Park Ribbon Cutting Ceremony 6.23.22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Hedge POP! Park Build Day was a huge success!  Check out additional photos here: Hedge POP! Park Build Day Photos 6.10.22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MODIFIED SLEEP PROGRAM– FREE YARD LIGHTING, ENTRYWAY LIGHTING & VIDEO DOORBELLS

Every home in Garden Hills is eligible to have a FREE yard pole light, entryway lighting and video doorbell installed by a qualified technician.  Interested?

Sign up online to be added to the Modified SLEEP program interest list here

Call 217-403-7070 for more information.

Listen to Neighborhood Programs Manager Jennifer Carlson’s March 16, 2022 interview on WILL Radio Podcast 217 Today:  Modified SLEEP Program Highlight

GARDEN HILLS SNAP VIRTUAL MEETINGS

View the Garden Hills Spring Informational Meeting here: Garden Hills Spring Informational Meeting (May 10, 2022)

Contact the staff contacts with any questions or comments:

Lt. Aaron Lack – [email protected] – 217.351.4545
Neighborhood Relations Manager John Ruffin – [email protected] – 217.403.7070
Neighborhood Programs Manager Jennifer Carlson – [email protected] – 217.403.7070
Neighborhood Ambassador Supervisor Jacqueline Kalipeni – [email protected] – 217.403.7070
Assistant City Engineer for Environmental Alex Nagy – [email protected] – 217.403.4700
Senior Planner Lacey Rains – [email protected]  – 217.403.8800
Assistant Planning and Development Director Rob Kowalski – [email protected]  217.403.8800

View the Garden Hills Winter Informational Meeting here: Garden Hills Winter Informational Meeting (February 17, 2022)

Contact the meeting presenters with any questions or comments:

Lt. Aaron Lack – [email protected] – 217.351.4545
Neighborhood Relations Manager John Ruffin – [email protected] – 217.403.7070
Neighborhood Programs Manager Jennifer Carlson – [email protected] – 217.403.7070
Assistant City Engineer for Environmental Alex Nagy – [email protected] – 217.403.4700
Senior Planner Lacey Rains – [email protected] – 217.403.8800

NEWSLETTERS

Garden Hills SNAP December Newsletter

Garden Hills SNAP July Newsletter

Garden Hills SNAP May Newsletter

Garden Hills SNAP Newsletter – February

GARDEN HILLS STRATEGIC NEIGHBORHOOD ACTION PLAN (GH-SNAP)

Funding from the American Rescue Plan Act has allowed many long-desired investments in Garden Hills to move forward.  A Strategic Neighborhood Action Plan (SNAP) initiative provides the opportunity to coordinate these efforts and engage residents to maximize positive impact.

Over the coming months, many input opportunities will be available.  Together, City staff and community members will work to identify short-term and longer-term actions for Garden Hills.  These actions can improve pedestrian safety, increase recreation opportunities, shape the design of Hedge Road and Paula Drive and much more.

DRAINAGE, STREET LIGHTING AND ROAD IMPROVEMENTS

Street lights will be added throughout the neighborhood.  Design is underway and installation will begin in Spring 2023.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The property on the north side of Hedge Road will be home to a new detention basin surrounded by walking and biking paths, a water feature, pavilion, lighting and landscaping for birds and butterflies.  This improvement will help alleviate flooding issues in the neighborhood, including at Garden Hills Park.  Hedge Road will also be completely reconstructed with traffic-calming features to slow speeding, new sidewalks and street lighting.  Design is underway and construction on the basin will begin in Summer 2023 with construction of Hedge Road to follow in 2024.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional drainage improvements including full reconstruction of Paula Drive will follow.

Learn more:

City Council Study Session 8/31/21

Study Session Report on Garden Hills Infrastructure Initiative