With its playground and grassy fields, Hessel Park is an ideal spot to spend a sunny afternoon with your family. The park has played a key role in the local community since its inception in 1918. Today find tennis and volleyball courts and gardens with colorful floral displays. Bring your kids and a picnic basket to this active green hub.
In summer, the soothing patter of fountain jets fills the park. Let your kids frolic in the water feature, which spurts from the ground upon the touch of a button. Choose from the various jet styles, including the floor spray and the spiral. Children will have fun on the large playground, while you prepare a meal at an outdoor grill and one of the pavilions.
More than 50 different species of trees adorn the 27-acre (11-hectare) park. Follow the Hessel Park Tree Walk to learn about Champaign’s diverse woodland. Tall American sweetgums, budding saucer magnolias and acorn-covered red oaks are among the varied vegetation. A detailed brochure is available online to download as an accompaniment to your woodland hike.
Occasional events take place here, including snow runs and fitness classes. Arrive with sportswear and join the games on the baseball field, the two volleyball courts or the four tennis courts with artificial lighting.
Drinking fountains and restrooms in the park keep you cool and composed. Lay down a blanket on a patch of grass and read a book beside colorful flowers.
Hessel Park is in the southern part of Champaign in eastern Illinois. Walk south from Downtown Champaign to arrive here in 30 minutes or take a short bus ride. A colorful sign marks the park’s turn-off. The park is open to the public daily from early morning until almost midnight.
Explore the vicinity for other attractions such as the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the Champaign Country Club and Mattis Park.
