Champaign Park District, alongside Champaign County African American Heritage Trail, and Experience Champaign-Urbana Foundation, will be celebrating substantial completion of the Skelton Park transformation during a ribbon cutting on Friday, June 7, at 12:00 p.m. at Skelton Park (101 E. Washington St., Champaign). A short musical performance by Candy Foster will follow. Media are encouraged to attend.
Skelton Park is a 1.4-acre pocket park that stands at one of the entrances to the historically African American North End neighborhood. The park has been renovated to pay homage to Champaign County’s legacy of outstanding African American musicians with several new features and amenities. These include a new sculpture by African American artist Preston Jackson, a small plaza and performance area, a seating wall and sloped berm, pathways, lighting, interactive musical instruments, and inscribed pavers.
“From the inception of this project to all the progress we’ve seen this year, Champaign Park District has been excited and honored to be the recipient of such vision and support from our partners and the community,” said Sarah Sandquist, Champaign Park District Executive Director.
The Champaign County African American Heritage Trail is a community-based project co-chaired by Barbara Suggs Mason and Angela Rivers and facilitated by the Experience Champaign-Urbana Foundation.
“What started as a dream in 2021 is now a reality, and I couldn’t be prouder,” said Jayne DeLuce, President & CEO of the Experience Champaign-Urbana Foundation, which facilitates the Heritage Trail. “I am so grateful to each of our partners, donors, and supporters for rallying behind this project. It truly took a village.”
The park’s transformation was overseen by Champaign Park District, the Experience Champaign-Urbana Foundation, and City of Champaign, and it was funded in part by the generous support of the Rotary Club of Champaign and Champaign County. A grant from the Office of Tourism at the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity also provided essential support. Additionally, individual donors throughout the community pitched in by purchasing inscribed pavers that have been installed along one of the pathways. Farnsworth Group managed the park’s engineering and design, and Duce Construction Company completed the construction.
“This project proves that every park, no matter its size, has the power to inspire and unite our community,” said Sarah Sandquist, Executive Director of the Champaign Park District. “I believe Skelton Park will become a destination for generations of residents and visitors to celebrate, recreate, and reflect.”
Additional improvements to Skelton Park are planned for later in 2024, including general landscaping and beautification, as well as installation of a “Wall of Fame” to recognize specific notable African American musicians with connections to Champaign County.
To learn more about the Champaign County African American Heritage Trail, visit https://www.ccafricanamericanheritage.org/.
