Centennial Park (Champaign, Illinois)

Park in Champaign, Illinois, United States

Centennial Park

Centennial Park Entrance Sign

Map of Centennial Park

Location| Champaign, Illinois
Coordinates| 40°06′02″N 88°17′02″W﻿ / ﻿40.10056°N 88.28389°W﻿ / 40.10056; -88.28389[1]
Area| 80 acres (32 ha)
Elevation| 725 feet (221 m)
Created| 1959 (1959)
Operated by| Champaign Park District
Status| Open all year
Public transit access|  MTD

Located in the western part of Champaign, Illinois, Centennial Park is the second largest park operated by the Champaign Park District. Land for the park was acquired in 1959 for an estimated cost of $161,800.[2] Since its acquisition of the land, the park district exchanged 5 acres (2.0 ha) of Centennial Park to Champaign Unit 4 School District in return for the land of Morrisey Park. Currently, Champaign Centennial High School and Jefferson Middle School sit within the park. The campus was designed by UIUC Professor Karl B. Lohmann.

## Facilities

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The park features eight lighted tennis courts, one lighted baseball field, five additional unlit baseball fields, one soccer field, and one basketball court.[3] Additionally, the park contains a playground and Centennial Hill, which is used as a sledding hill during the winter months.

## Leonhard Recreation Center

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This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (June 2020)

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In 1976, the center was dedicated as the Bicentennial Center in honor of the United States' Bicentennial anniversary. However, the center was rededicated as its current namesake in 1984 to honor former park district commissioner Patricia H. Leonhard.

The Rec Center includes a full-size gymnasium, an air-conditioned activity space, locker rooms, and offices.

The park district announced in 2012 that the 35-year-old building will be replaced with a $5 million complex in the spring of 2014.[4] Ground was broken on the project on July 3, 2013.[5] The new complex will feature a geothermal heating and cooling system, a key feature that the current recreation center is lacking. Furthermore, the new rec center will feature the following:

* Indoor playground
* Walking track
* Basketball courts
* Volleyball courts
* Activity rooms

The new building will also host special interest classes, and sport and fitness programs. It will also continue to host the park district's summer programs for children.[6]

## Bresnan Meeting Center

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Originally dedicated as "The Meeting Center" when the facility opened on May 2, 1968, the Besnan Center houses the administrative offices for the Champaign Park District. The center was rededicated on May 9, 1984 after park commissioner Donald F. Bresnan for its current namesake. Additionally the Board of Directors' meetings are held at 7pm on the second Wednesday of every month.

## Sholem Aquatic Center

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Sholem Aquatic Center

Water slides at the park

Slogan| "Your Place to Play!"
Location| 2005 Sangamon Drive
Champaign, IL 61821
Owner| Champaign Park District
Previous names| Sholem Pool
Pools| 2 pools
Water slides| 3 water slides
Children's areas| 2 children's areas
Website| homepage

Opening in 2006, the family water park serves the Champaign-Urbana metropolitan area[7] each year from Memorial Day until Labor Day. Operating hours are typically reduced when Unit 4 schools are still in session. Staffed by award-winning Lifeguards, the Sholem Aquatic Center contains many different water features, pools a concession stand, and grassy areas for shade. Each feature is divided among the park in different areas:

* The Beach (8000sq-ft pool and waterplay area)
* The Puddle (a wading area for small children)
* The Sea (an 8-lane, 25 yard lap pool)
* The Falls (170 ft tube slide)
* The Plunge, and Blue Rush (both are 197 ft water slides enclosed in darkness)
* The Rapids (660 ft inner-tube river)
* The Oasis (concession stand with seating)

The aquatic center also offers swimming lessons, teen swim hours, and adult swim hours. Additionally, the complex is available for private rental after hours.

## Prairie Farm

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Centennial Park also features Prairie Farm, which serves as a full-size, replica farm. Dedicated in 1966, the farm features barns, farmhouse, pond, pasture, & flower garden. The farm is open Memorial Day weekend through the middle of August and also hosts several children activities and programs throughout the season. Additionally, the farm houses traditional farm animals like sheep, pigs, goats, horses, cows, chickens, and geese. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged to help sustain the facility.[8]

## References

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1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Centennial Park
2. ^ "Centennial Park". Champaign Park District. Archived from the original on September 2, 2014. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
3. ^ "Centennial Park - ExploreCU". ExploreCU. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
4. ^ "Champaign moves forward on replacing Leonhard Center". Retrieved October 2, 2014.
5. ^ "Ground broken on future site of Leonhard Recreation Center". The Daily Illini. Archived from the original on August 6, 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
6. ^ "Ground broken on future site of Leonhard Recreation Center". The Daily Illini. Archived from the original on August 6, 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
7. ^ "Sholem Aquatic Center". Facebook. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
8. ^ "Prairie Farm". Champaign Park District. Archived from the original on September 2, 2014. Retrieved September 18, 2014.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Centennial Park (Champaign, Illinois).

* Official website

* v
* t
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City of Champaign

People|

* List of people from Champaign

History and government|

* Burnham Athenaeum
* Cattle Bank
* Champaign City Building
* Champaign Public Library
* Construction of Assembly Hall
* First Presbyterian Church
* Illinois Traction Building
* Inman Hotel
* Lincoln Building
* Orpheum Theatre
* Stone Arch Bridge
* U.S. Post Office
* Vriner's Confectionery

Education|

* Centennial High School
* Champaign Central High School
* Judah Christian School
* St. Thomas More High School
* Parkland College
* University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Cultural places and events|

* Boneyard Creek
* Campustown
* Champaign Park District
* Centennial Park
* Dodds Park
* Champaign Swarm (MPBA)
* Ebertfest: Roger Ebert's Film Festival
* Illinois Marathon
* JSM Challenger of Champaign–Urbana
* Krannert Art Museum
* Market Place Mall
* Orpheum Children's Science Museum
* Staerkel Planetarium
* State Farm Center
* Virginia Theatre
* UIUC Main Library

Public transportation|

* Champaign County Area Rural Transit System
* Champaign–Urbana Mass Transit District
* Illinois Terminal
* University of Illinois Willard Airport

Interstates and highways|

* Interstate 57
* Interstate 72
* Interstate 74
* U.S. Route 45
* U.S. Route 150
* Illinois Route 10

* Category
* Commons

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