Access to Parks

The Access to Parks indicator measures the number of residential parcels in the Champaign-Urbana-Savoy urbanized area that are within one half mile and within one quarter mile of a public park or other public open space. The half mile and quarter mile are used here as representations of reasonable walking distance to an amenity, with a half mile generally representing a 10 minute walk, and a quarter mile representing a 5 minute walk.

Public parks, public golf courses, forest preserves, and public/private recreational facilities (i.e. privately owned recreational land available for public use) were counted toward this indicator. Private golf courses and country clubs were not counted toward this indicator.

The access analysis was performed using linear distance, rather than distance along a street network, so access in some areas may be limited by characteristics of the street network (e.g., form, lack or condition of sidewalks) or major barriers (e.g., highways and other wide roads that are difficult or dangerous to cross).

Taking into account the limitations of our methodology, as of the analysis performed in June 2022, Champaign-Urbana-Savoy residents as a whole have very good access to parks and open space: over 74 percent of the Champaign-Urbana-Savoy residential area is within one quarter mile of a park or open space, and almost 97 percent of the Champaign-Urbana-Savoy residential area is within one half mile of a park or open space.

Parks and open space are valuable amenities that have recreational, environmental, and public health benefits. The ability of residents to visit parks and access these benefits without a car is a measure of both equity and quality of life.

The percentage analysis was performed in GIS using map layers from the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) and Champaign County GIS Consortium (CCGISC). The analysis is done on an annual basis, to account for any changes in both parks and residential areas.