Park Avenue Reconstruction

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The City of Champaign is creating a new pedestrian-friendly corridor along Park Avenue in downtown Champaign. The first phase of the project includes the reconstruction of Park Avenue between Randolph Street and Neil Street. Construction will occur in 2026.

Park Avenue's redesign began with the 2006 Downtown Plan which recommended an east-west pedestrian corridor connecting West Side Park to North First Street through the heart of downtown. Since then, streetscape projects for Park Avenue, Taylor Street, and Neil Street have been added to the City's 10-year Capital Improvement Plan. These projects focus on improving walkability and enhancing Downtown's unique character. Reconstructing Park Avenue is the first step in bringing this vision to life, making Downtown Champaign more accessible and enjoyable.

A map highlighting three street segments in downtown Champaign. Park Avenue between State and Neil is labeled as a "Festival Street Typology" that provides a platform for flexible event programming. Neil Street, from Hill to Clark, is labeled as a "Main Street Typology" given its retail and restaurant uses and high traffic volumes. Taylor Street, from Neil to Market, and Market Street, from Main to University, are labeled as "Urbana Street Typology" due to their lower traffic volumes, narrow right-of-way and pedestrian priority.

Consultants Clark Dietz and MKSK identified Park Avenue as a prime site for improvement due to its wide layout, low traffic, and connection to West Side Park. The street has hosted community events like Ebertfest and Friday Night Live, and is near landmarks like the Virginia Theatre. The redesign prioritizes pedestrians and event spaces, while still allowing vehicle access.

A map of Park Avenue between Randolph and Neil. The map shows expanded sidewalks on Neil, parallel on-street parking on the south side and angled parking spots on the north side (proposing 24 total spots vs 35 existing spots). Blue shading at the intersections of Neil/Park and Randolph/Park denote raised intersections. The intersection of Randolph/Park shows curb bumpouts that would reduce pedestrian crossing distances.

The engineering concept for Park Avenue includes raised intersections at Neil and Randolph to slow traffic and improve pedestrian visibility. Bumpouts will shorten crosswalks, and parking lot access will be rerouted off Park Avenue. A curbless design will allow easy movement between buildings on both sides of the street without ramps or curbs. Bollards, textured pavement, and sturdy street furniture will separate pedestrian areas from vehicles, and string lights will create a welcoming, "festive" atmosphere. Temporary bollards could also be used during events to close off parts of the street, similar to those used for The Beat on Market Street in the summer of 2024. Overall, the redesign aims to create a vibrant, flexible space for everyday use, special events, and festivals.


A side by side comparison of existing Neil Street streetscape on the left showing a 6-inch tall curb and a curbless street on the right with street furnishings, lighting, and plantings delineating the pedestrian and automobile zones.

A side by side picture of existing Neil Street streetscape on the left showing standard street lighting for pedestrians and automobiles. The picture on the right shows signature streetlights that could be featured on Park Avenue to differentiate the street from other ones downtown. Also shown on the right is accent lighting to create a festive atmosphere and tivoli lighting, or string lighting, hanging over the street between poles on either side of the street.


The City of Champaign is creating a new pedestrian-friendly corridor along Park Avenue in downtown Champaign. The first phase of the project includes the reconstruction of Park Avenue between Randolph Street and Neil Street. Construction will occur in 2026.

Park Avenue's redesign began with the 2006 Downtown Plan which recommended an east-west pedestrian corridor connecting West Side Park to North First Street through the heart of downtown. Since then, streetscape projects for Park Avenue, Taylor Street, and Neil Street have been added to the City's 10-year Capital Improvement Plan. These projects focus on improving walkability and enhancing Downtown's unique character. Reconstructing Park Avenue is the first step in bringing this vision to life, making Downtown Champaign more accessible and enjoyable.

A map highlighting three street segments in downtown Champaign. Park Avenue between State and Neil is labeled as a "Festival Street Typology" that provides a platform for flexible event programming. Neil Street, from Hill to Clark, is labeled as a "Main Street Typology" given its retail and restaurant uses and high traffic volumes. Taylor Street, from Neil to Market, and Market Street, from Main to University, are labeled as "Urbana Street Typology" due to their lower traffic volumes, narrow right-of-way and pedestrian priority.

Consultants Clark Dietz and MKSK identified Park Avenue as a prime site for improvement due to its wide layout, low traffic, and connection to West Side Park. The street has hosted community events like Ebertfest and Friday Night Live, and is near landmarks like the Virginia Theatre. The redesign prioritizes pedestrians and event spaces, while still allowing vehicle access.

A map of Park Avenue between Randolph and Neil. The map shows expanded sidewalks on Neil, parallel on-street parking on the south side and angled parking spots on the north side (proposing 24 total spots vs 35 existing spots). Blue shading at the intersections of Neil/Park and Randolph/Park denote raised intersections. The intersection of Randolph/Park shows curb bumpouts that would reduce pedestrian crossing distances.

The engineering concept for Park Avenue includes raised intersections at Neil and Randolph to slow traffic and improve pedestrian visibility. Bumpouts will shorten crosswalks, and parking lot access will be rerouted off Park Avenue. A curbless design will allow easy movement between buildings on both sides of the street without ramps or curbs. Bollards, textured pavement, and sturdy street furniture will separate pedestrian areas from vehicles, and string lights will create a welcoming, "festive" atmosphere. Temporary bollards could also be used during events to close off parts of the street, similar to those used for The Beat on Market Street in the summer of 2024. Overall, the redesign aims to create a vibrant, flexible space for everyday use, special events, and festivals.


A side by side comparison of existing Neil Street streetscape on the left showing a 6-inch tall curb and a curbless street on the right with street furnishings, lighting, and plantings delineating the pedestrian and automobile zones.

A side by side picture of existing Neil Street streetscape on the left showing standard street lighting for pedestrians and automobiles. The picture on the right shows signature streetlights that could be featured on Park Avenue to differentiate the street from other ones downtown. Also shown on the right is accent lighting to create a festive atmosphere and tivoli lighting, or string lighting, hanging over the street between poles on either side of the street.


  • Reconstruction Postponed to 2026

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    Park Avenue Construction Rescheduled to 2026

    The City is adjusting the timeline for the Park Avenue reconstruction project. Originally scheduled for the 2025 construction season, the project is now expected to begin in spring or summer 2026. Preliminary cost estimates exceed available funding, and the project team is working to identify cost-saving measures and potential additional funding sources.

    Several factors contributed to this decision to postpone construction:

    • Project Scope Expansion: Additional work on Randolph Street, including access changes to parking lots for pedestrian prioritization on Park Avenue, required more time for design.
    • Cost Estimates: Financially conservative estimates account for cost changes in materials and specialty items such as wood-capped bench seating and conduit for enhanced lighting.
    • Coordination with Events: Delaying construction provides flexibility to minimize disruption to major events like Ebertfest and Friday Night Live.

    Work on the Taylor Street alley may still [DH1] proceed this year, taking advantage of several vacant storefronts on Walnut Street. We appreciate the community’s patience as we refine the Park Avenue plan to ensure the best use of available resources while maintaining project goals. Further updates will be shared as adjustments are made.

    Park Avenue Construction Rescheduled to 2026

    The City is adjusting the timeline for the Park Avenue reconstruction project. Originally scheduled for the 2025 construction season, the project is now expected to begin in spring or summer 2026. Preliminary cost estimates exceed available funding, and the project team is working to identify cost-saving measures and potential additional funding sources.

    Several factors contributed to this decision to postpone construction:

    • Project Scope Expansion: Additional work on Randolph Street, including access changes to parking lots for pedestrian prioritization on Park Avenue, required more time for design.
    • Cost Estimates: Financially conservative estimates account for cost changes in materials and specialty items such as wood-capped bench seating and conduit for enhanced lighting.
    • Coordination with Events: Delaying construction provides flexibility to minimize disruption to major events like Ebertfest and Friday Night Live.

    Work on the Taylor Street alley may still [DH1] proceed this year, taking advantage of several vacant storefronts on Walnut Street. We appreciate the community’s patience as we refine the Park Avenue plan to ensure the best use of available resources while maintaining project goals. Further updates will be shared as adjustments are made.