Getting to Know UPF Trustee Marianne Downey

Getting to Know UPF Trustee Marianne Downey

I am honored to be invited to become a Trustee on the Urbana parks Foundation Board. When I moved to Urbana from Indianapolis, IN 17 years ago I noticed the that there seemed to be a great deal of park land for a city this size.  As it turns out, Urbana does have...
The economic impact of local parks

The economic impact of local parks

They say money doesn’t grow on trees, but can it grow out of parks? In 2017, research by the National Recreation and Park Association found that parks and the programs run by park and recreation departments generated over $1.5 billion in economic activity, supporting...
Urbana Parks Offer Meaningful Interaction With Nature

Urbana Parks Offer Meaningful Interaction With Nature

What is it about the color green that is so calming and uplifting? Can an elegant row of trees or the wide open expanse of a prairie transport you out of the hustle and bustle of city life, even if just for a few minutes? Urbana parks bring color into our lives in so...
Getting to know UPF Trustee Bill Gray

Getting to know UPF Trustee Bill Gray

Why do you support Urbana Parks?Our family supports the Urbana Park District and Urbana Parks Foundation because of all it has to offer.  We moved to Urbana in 1993, and at the time our children were six and three years old.  Over the years our family has...
Why We Should Have Nature During Coronavirus

Why We Should Have Nature During Coronavirus

10 year old Urbana Parks Supporter Sofia Marquez shares why she thinks it is important to have nature during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shared her personal thoughts in a message to the Urbana Parks Foundation with permission to share on our blog. Read on to hear what...