Public is Invited to Join in “Fence Picket” Fundraiser, with Personalized Pickets Available for Sale Starting Sept. 15
As the Meadowbrook Park Playground renovation gets closer to becoming a reality, the public is encouraged to get involved with the project to ensure that children can enjoy an accessible, inclusive, cutting-edge playground tailored to their developmental needs, and that PrairiePlay at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana continues to be an iconic community fixture into the future.
In an effort to raise money to achieve these goals, the Urbana Parks Foundation (UPF) will launch a fence picket fundraiser at the Urbana Park District (UPD) Jazz Walk on September 15 at 5pm.
The personalized fence pickets will be included in the fence built around the playground once it is
constructed. Pickets have 22 spaces for personalization, and give donors the opportunity to have their family, company, or organization name engraved in it.
“We are so grateful for the support we have seen from our donors so far, and are excited to invite the community to participate in helping to bring about this new play experience,” said Urbana Park District Executive Director Tim Bartlett.
Pickets are $125 each.
The Urbana Parks Foundation (UPF) created the Meadowbrook Park Playground Giving Project to support the Urbana Park District’s (UPD) playground renovation plans, which are slated to begin in 2024.
The Meadowbrook Park Playground Giving Project has seen early success from lead donors
who have given generously toward the project during a “quiet” phase of fundraising. Now, it is inviting the public to participate – and to make their own mark.
Community members interested in these personalized pickets are encouraged to act quickly as there is a limited supply. More information on purchasing pickets, and other ways to donate to the project, can be found online.
In 2019, the public first became aware of the Urbana Park District’s plan to replace the Meadowbrook Park playground. But several factors – most notably the pandemic, which impacted budget and logistics — led the Park District to push back the project timeline.
Urbana Park District led an intensive community input process over the course of several months starting in fall 2021. Those sessions led to the reveal of a master playground plan design which the UPD Board of Commissioners accepted in August 2022.
The goal of the design is to create an inclusive playground experience for kids of all ages and abilities—and their caregivers—with features designed to boost accessibility and inclusion.
Key features anchoring the new playground include a play structure with net climber for kids 5 years old and up; a “tots play area” for kids ages 2 to 5; and a spot with swings.
Inclusivity was a significant consideration in the design, with features such as
a non-verbal accessibility sign, strategic use of poured-in-place safety surfacing, concrete paths through the playground, and play pieces themselves that are designed for accessibility and inclusion.
The plan will also incorporate features that bring in a sense of place including vine
tunnels at different entrances to the playground, incorporation of native landscaping, different
seating nodes, custom sculptural benches, and trees planted within the playground to create
natural shade along with fabric shade sails.
“This is a dynamic plan with a lot of play value, and we look forward to continuing the tradition of
creating a destination play experience at Meadowbrook Park,” said Bartlett.
For more information about UPF and the Meadowbrook Park Playground Giving Project, visit
www.urbanaparksfoundation.org/meadowbrook-park-playground-giving-project or
connect with UPF on Facebook.