The City of Champaign and Champaign Park District have partnered to create Downtown Picnic Parks for people to have the opportunity to enjoy their restaurant takeout in the Downtown Champaign atmosphere. If you want to consume alcohol you’ll have to sit at a restaurant patio or take your food home, but this is another way to do some outdoor dining during lunch or dinner. From the City of Champaign:
The three Picnic Parks are located at Chester Street, just east of Neil Street, Park Avenue just west of Neil Street and an area just north of the One Main Plaza. They are open daily from 11 am-2 pm and then again from 5 pm-9 pm. The Downtown Picnic Parks are expected to remain open for the community to enjoy while restaurants are allowed to gradually reopen.
The Downtown Picnic Parks have been designed to be safe and sanitary as well. They each contain hand washing and sanitizing stations as well as disinfectant to clean surfaces. Each picnic table can seat up to six people and tables are spaced more than six feet apart for social distancing. Champaign Park District staff monitors the Downtown Picnic Parks while they are open to ensure they are clean and appropriately maintained.
Photo by Rob Kowalski.