The City of Champaign and the Champaign Park District are making it easier to enjoy a picnic.
The entities have combined resources to provide three Picnic Parks in downtown Champaign where anyone can have their own picnic.
The idea, assistant city planner Rob Kowalski said, is to encourage C-U residents to purchase carryout food from local restaurants, a key component to keeping restaurants alive during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The three parks are located at Chester Street, just east of Walnut; Park Avenue, just went of Neil Street; and the north end of One Main Plaza (typically the site of the Farmers Market). The sites are open daily from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. Tables are spaced at least 6 feet apart and equipped with amenities for keeping hands and surfaces clean. The spaces are monitored by the park district daily and will be available all summer.