Champaign’s Oldest Honorary Street Up For Renewal

It's been ten years since the Champaign City Council approved its first honorary street for a ten-year-term. And the council marked the anniversary Tuesday night by endorsing a renewal of the street for another ten years.

Honorary Illini Boulevard follows Kirby Avenue from Mattis Avenue east into the University of Illinois campus, past both Memorial Stadium and the Assembly Hall. Developer Kyle Robeson proposed the street name a decade ago, and requested its renewal this year to recognize the U of I's importance to the

"It's very simple", explains Robeson. "The university is the powerhouse that runs this city. Both cities, Urbana and Champaign. And that's why we're here. Or we'd just be another railroad town."

According to Mayor Jerry Schweighart, Robeson originally proposed Illini Boulevard as an official street name, but the city council decided on the honorary designation instead. Now, Champaign has honorary street signs honoring local civic leaders, athletes, soldiers, police officers, and entertainers. Schweighart says the honorary streets have served the city well.

"I think that we recognize some people that should be recognized" says Schweighart. "We get some requests that we have elected not to honor, for one reason or another. But by and large, it's (gone) pretty good."

Champaign now has more than two dozen honorary streets, and their special signs honor people ranging from local civil rights activist John Lee Johnson to film critic Roger Ebert. Honorary Illini Boulevard is unusual, because it's not named after a specific person. Council Member Marci Dodds says that's an inconsistency which warrants holding a discussion to set formal criteria for honorary street names. But she still voted to renew Honorary Illini Boulevard.

"I think we should go ahead and do it for a host of reasons" said Dodds during the council discussion, "not the least of which is probably the U of I could use our very vocal and visible support about now. But it's very different than other ones we've done. So I'm getting to think that it might be time that we really settle out on what will be an honorary street name, and what won't, so it doesn't look quite so arbitrary."

In addition to Illini Boulevard, other honorary streets in Champaign that don't honor specific individuals include Veterans Parkway to honor local veterans, and Burnham Boulevard to honor the old Burnham City Hospital.

Seven more honorary street names come up for renewal or cancellation next year --- including streets honoring Paralympic athlete Jean Driscoll and rock band REO Speedwagon.