Centennial Park (Champaign, Illinois)

Located in the western part of Champaign, Illinois, Centennial Park is the second largest park operated by the Champaign Park District. Land for the park was acquired in 1959 for an estimated cost of about $161,800. Since its acquisition of the land, the park district exchanged of the park to Champaign Unit 4 School District in return for the land for Morrisey Park. Currently, Champaign Centennial High School and Jefferson Middle School sit within the park. The campus was designed by Professor Karl Lohmann.FacilitiesThe park features 8 lighted tennis courts, 1 lighted baseball field, 5 additional unlit baseball fields, 1 soccer field, and 1 basketball court. Additionally, the park contains a playground and Centennial Hill, which is used as a sledding hill during the winter months.Leonhard Recreation CenterIn 1976, the center was dedicated as the Bicentennial Center in honor of the United States' Bicentennial anniversary. However, the center was rededicated as its current namesake in 1984 to honor former park district commissioner Patricia H. Leonhard.The Rec Center includes a full-size gymnasium, an air-conditioned activity space, locker rooms, and offices.The park district announced in 2012 that the 35-year-old building will be replaced with a $5 million complex in the spring of 2014. Ground was broken on the project on July 3, 2013. The new complex will feature a geothermal heating and cooling system, a key feature that the current recreation center is lacking. Furthermore, the new rec center will feature the following: