CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) — Champaign Park District broke ground Tuesday on a major accessibility and recreation improvement project at the CUSR Center, joined by Gov. JB Pritzker and other local and state officials.

The project is being funded in part through a $600,000 Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant awarded by the State of Illinois in 2025. The funding will support construction of the All Abilities Activities Hub, an accessible outdoor recreation space designed for people of all ages and abilities.

“This new project will provide the community with so much more than a space to get active and enjoy the outdoors,” Pritzker said during the groundbreaking ceremony. “It will help our children find a sense of independence, confidence and belonging.”

The governor said the project reflects Illinois’ commitment to accessibility and inclusion.

“Endeavors like this speak so much to who we are as a state — a place where accessibility and inclusion aren’t just words, but something we build and invest in,” he said.

In addition to the outdoor activity hub, the project includes construction of a new circle drive at the CUSR Center to improve bus pick-up and drop-off access, along with accessible pathways connecting the building to outdoor exercise and play equipment.

The total project is estimated to cost about $1.07 million, with $600,000 reimbursed through the state grant program. Construction is expected to be completed by May 2027.