Chicago Construction News staff writer
The City of Champaign kicked off the next phase of Garden Hills improvements with a groundbreaking ceremony Oct. 10.
The Garden Hills neighborhood is undergoing transformative infrastructure investments to improve stormwater drainage, install streetlights throughout the neighborhood, rebuild streets, and add sidewalks.
The project includes a new Hedge Park which will include a playground, basketball court, splash play area, and gathering spaces, while also containing neighborhood stormwater.
Phase two includes a massive new stormwater detention basin to provide local flood control, surrounded by a 1.5-mile walking path, decorative retaining walls, overlook areas, ornamental bridges, native plantings, seating areas, and pedestrian lighting.
The design includes a basketball court, reading circle, turf area, playground equipment, an interactive exercise/play wall (Sutu wall), splash play area, water mister, exercise stations, and a plaza gathering space. The construction project also includes the complete street reconstruction of Hedge Road between Mattis Avenue and Hedge Court.
Construction is expected to be completed by late 2025 or early 2026, including complete street reconstruction of Hedge Road between Mattis Avenue and Hedge Court.
