$10 Million Park District Project To Serve More Kids

Look for a new community center on the north side of Champaign to offer more opportunities for young people. 

The founders of Human Kinetics, Rainer and Julie Martens, are donating $4.4 million to build a new community center at Human Kinetics Park on North Market Street in Champaign.

Park district officials have committed another $2 million and will hold a fundraising drive to help pay for the rest of the $10 million dollar project. They hope to start construction in 2019 and open in 2020.

The new center will house elementary and middle school programs for the Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club, and also serve surrounding neighborhoods. "Especially in the mobile home park across the street, the Bristol Place new development, the Boneyard Creek improvements; this will really make a difference in that entire community," said Joe DeLuce, executive director of the Champaign Park District.

The Park District will oversee the park and the community center and the Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club will use the new facility.

Sam Banks, executive director of the Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club, said attendance at club activities has roughly doubled in the last five years. He added that the new center is badly needed and will help ease cramped space.

Once the elementary and middle school programs move to the new park, Banks says the current Boys and Girls Club building will be used for a teen center exclusively.

Ratio Architects