A NEW Mini Park is Coming!

Yes, The City of Urbana has yet another beautiful park that will be dedicated at 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018.

Located at the corner of Water Street and Broadway Avenue, the Water Street Mini Park has so much packed into its small space, that it must be seen to be believed!

According to Bruce Cubberly of Urbana Public Works, this park has lovely plantings from indigenous flowers, to lovely local hybrids for pops of color and interest for the entire growing season and beyond. Plus, the WSMP has boulders and rocks that also serve as seating. And, as is Urbana's purpose to reuse and recycle, the repurposed brick pavers from the former Broadway Avenue have been used to construct a large protion of the park.

"The Water Street Mini Park is 2000 square feet of restful garden space that replaces the old mini park that was constructed in the 1980s. Design and construction were done by Urbana Public Works employees in the Arbor Division. It utilizes repurposed road brick from Broadway Avenue, a limestone seating wall, and sandstone boulders—some large enough to sit on," Cuberly said. "Many of the plants used are selections of native plants that will provide habitat for pollinators and have flowers throughout the growing season. The naturalistic design theme uses plants that will adapt to hot dry summers and once established should not need supplemental watering."

That is not all. Urbana brought in students to help lend their fresh perspective to the park.

"At the west end is an artistic structure of urban wood and steel that was designed and built by University of Illinois grad students in the Architecture Department under the watchful eye of Professor Aaron Brakke and Lab Supervisor, Lowell Miller," Cubberly added.

Please come out and enjoy the unveiling and the dedication this Tuesday! The beauty of this wonderful little park will have many taking leave of the bustle of the day and enjoying a minute or two at the park.

"This is a garden for people to enjoy," Cubberly said.