Visiting Meadowbrook Park in Urbana with Your Family

Editor’s Note: Meadowbrook Park playground is currently undergoing a replacement and the playground is closed to the public. Meanwhile, enjoy everything else Meadowbrook has to offer while we eagerly await the new playground to be revealed!

Our favorite place to stop along Windsor Road, Meadowbrook Park in Urbana is a terrific place for kids and adults alike

Fly a kite, pack a picnic or take a lovely stroll along the walking paths when you visit Meadowbrook Park in Urbana

Driving down Windsor Road through Urbana leads you right past one of the most captivating outdoor spaces Champaign-Urbana has to offer. You may not be expecting this sprawling green space to appear among the cornfields you are passing by, and you are truly missing out if you always drive past and never stop!

The Urbana Park District and other community organizations have come together to make Meadowbrook Park — located on the southern end of Champaign-Urbana and a short distance from the University of Illinois Campus — what it is today.

What we love about Meadowbrook Park

Meadowbrook Park has a little bit of everything and checks the major “boxes” parents are looking for when it comes to a place to spend time outdoors:

convenient bathroom facilities
picturesque scenery
extra wide walking trails
new playground coming down the road (playground closed for 2024)

Tips For Your Trip From Other Parents

Familiarize yourself and your child with the exit/entry points in the playground when you arrive for the first time. Go over ground rules.
Bring the kites if it is windy. Bring bikes/scooters/strollers if you’re going to stroll. Bring a picnic to make a whole afternoon of it. Basically, bring it ALL if you choose!
Don’t forget your camera. You’ll probably see a photo op or two while spending time here.
Remember that you have to walk back (or do a full loop) if you find yourself wandering down the trails. Before you know it, you’ll be walking further than you planned, and if you have little legs with you, they may tire out.
Decide where you want to park ahead of time, in the lot off of Windsor (for the playground) or the lot off of Race (for the gardens). Walking paths and restrooms are near both parking lots.
Before this was a park, it was a family farm. Don’t miss strolling the grounds of the gardens to enjoy the farm-feel still present today.

FAQs

Is this park good for toddlers?

Yes! It rates as one of our “Best Parks for Babies and Toddlers” in Champaign-Urbana.

What amenities are offered?

Meadowbrook Park offers many amenities, including:

Three miles of 10 foot wide paved trails
Organic garden plots community members can rent
80 acres of a recreated tallgrass prairie
Wide open field, perfect for kite flying
Tree grove, sensory garden and herb garden to stroll through
Sculptures located along paved walking path
Picnic tables, grills and rentable pavilions

How are the bathrooms?

There are two bathrooms, one located near each parking area. Both will serve you well.

Are there picnic tables and grills?

Yes and yes! And if you’re looking to rent a larger pavilion, those are available through the Park District, too.

Is there any shade?

Yes, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how shaded the walking trails are. You’ll feel like you’re deep in the woods somewhere, when really you’re just footsteps away from the heart of C-U. There are also some stretches that are in the full sun, so be prepared for that as well.

When is this park open?

Dawn to dusk.

What is parking like?

The parking areas are not gated. You can park in one of two parking lots. There is the parking lot off of Windsor (for the playground) or the lot off of Race (for the gardens). Both have access to walking trails and restrooms nearby.