The village of Mahomet has experienced rapid growth in recent years and residents have eagerly awaited announcements such as this: Mahomet Parks and Recreation Department is embarking on a project that will bring new park amenities to complement what is already available.
Barber Park, which is located off Route 150, will be adding a new nature-theme playground and sprayground, as well as adding accessible paved pathways and improved amphitheater components to the park pavilion. Barber Park has a number of fields used for youth sports such as t-ball, soccer, flag football and more. In recent years, Mahomet Parks and Recreation has begun adding outdoor summer concerts to the happenings at Barber Park.
“This project will greatly improve the quality of life for our residents and greatly enhance the experience for existing park users,” said Dan Waldinger, director of Parks and Recreation. “These new amenities will improve our physical and psychological health, strengthen our community, and make our village and neighborhoods more attractive places to live and work.”
Mahomet Parks and Recreation announced Jan. 22 it received a matching grant award from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for improvements at Barber Park. According to a document posted on the Mahomet Parks and Recreation Department website, the project will be funded by the Parks Capital Improvement Fund, fundraised dollars and the IDNR grant, not an increase in resident taxes.
This project is the first phase of further developments to come (dependent on funding, such as additional grants). Construction on the first phase will take place in 2021 with official opening of the new amenities by the spring of 2022.
Children will now have some dedicated play space at Barber Park while their siblings participate in youth sports, and residents of all ages will be able to take advantage of the accessible walking paths and outdoor programming, such as concerts. The concept plan for Barber Park improvements shows a “geyser pad/water feature,” which means Mahomet families will have a place to cool off during the warmer months for the first time ever.
Mahomet Parks and Recreation department will announce a number of ways people can contribute to the project soon; the grant awarded is a matching dollar-for-dollar grant, up to $400,000.
For more information on Mahomet:
Parent’s Guide to Lake of the Woods | Top Ten Reasons to Visit the Mahomet Public Library | Mahomet Foot Golf: Family Fun on the Links | Top Ten Things to do with Kids in Mahomet | 6 Places to Experience Nature with Kids Near Champaign-Urbana
