West Side Park

• Obtained in 1854
• Acres: 13.9
• Distance around park = .5 mi
• Donors: Jeffrey A. Farnam, Nathan M. Clark, James P. White
• FREE Wi-Fi (near fountain area)

West Side Park Features:

• “Capron Memorial Sculpture Garden” sculpture by William Fothergill
• “Double Dutch Jump for Joy” sculpture by Gary Bibbs
• “Fire and Police Memorial” sculpture by Brodin Studios
• “Lincoln Megalith” sculpture by Truman Jefferson “TJ” Strong
• “Tootsie” sculpture by Dean Rose
• “Uppercutted” sculpture by Ted Sitting Crow Garner
• “Prayer For Rain” sculpture by Edward Kemeys (1843-1907)
  • One hundred years ago from atop the Prayer For Rain fountain, the likenesses of a Native American, a panther, and a deer began keeping watch over Champaign’s West Side Park. The fountain and sculpture have come to mean many different things to many different people.
  • For two years (’98-’99), the Champaign Park District had taken steps to restore the fountain to its original appearance when first dedicated on June 1, 1899. After a year long absence for restoration purposes, the sculpture atop the fountain was returned just in time for a rededication celebration on Saturday, June 26, 1999.
  • History
    • 1894 – Benjamin F. Johnson left $10,000 for the beautification of White Park (West Side). This money was used for a bandstand, sidewalks, a fountain and a statue “Prayer For Rain.”
    • 1899 – Sculpture erected.
    • In July of 1900 the Illinois Fish Commissioner donated 75-100 goldfish that were kept in the basin of the fountain.
    • For the 100th anniversary of the Prayer For Rain fountain, restoration and re-dedication was performed in 1999. The fountain was returned to its original look and function after having been modified over the years.

Prayer For Rain
by Edward Kemeys
The Indian paused by the hills’ wild crest
Where the hemlocks throw their shade,
He looked o’er the land where the burning west
A river of flame had made.
The suffering Earth was parched and dry
Neath the fierce Sun’s molten glare,
For drought had drained rivers afar and nigh
And a thirst was everywhere.
Then lo! as the Medicine-Man on high
His arms upraised in prayer
Forth came two beasts from the river bed dry
And pausing, they joined him there.
The first was a panther, cruel and grim
The other was a wild deer shy;
And they raised a prayer for rain with him
To the Manitou on high.