City Staff Attends Annual National Community Development Association Conference
Community Development Specialists Betsy Barclay and Shelby Mammano of the Neighborhood Services Department attended the Annual National Community Development Association (NCDA) Conference in June. Each year, the NCDA hosts a conference for agencies that receive federal funds for community development activities. The NCDA Conference provides attendees with the opportunity to attend a variety of sessions. […]
STEM Day at Hedge POP! Park
On June 23, 2023, the Equity and Engagement Department was joined by staff from multiple City Departments to host a STEM Day at Hedge POP! Park. This event was hosted to promote STEM activities, engage children in the Garden Hills neighborhood, and provide educational resources to residents in the community. The event was supported by […]
Campus-Community Compact
On June 21, 2023 was the launch of the Campus-Community Compact to Accelerate Social Justice (Compact) Convening. In response to Chancellor Jones’ Call-To-Action against racism and social injustice in July 2020, the Community Action and Public Engagement (CAPE) Committee established the Compact, comprised of a diverse group of leaders from both the campus and the […]
Neighborhood Services Hosts Game Night in Turnberry Ridge Park
On Thursday, June 15, 2023, the Neighborhood Services Department hosted a game night in Turnberry Ridge park. Game nights are designed to bring neighbors together to enjoy an evening of fun in their own neighborhood parks. Staff simply show up, set up, and provide games, music, a bounce house and frozen treats for whatever neighbors […]
City Staff Attends Damage Assessment Training
Staff from the Neighborhood Services Department (NSD) and the Building Safety Division (BSD) participated in Damage Assessment Training presented by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA). Staff from other area government agencies including the University of Illinois and Champaign County attended the training as well. Due to recent staff turnover in both NSD and BSD, […]
Trails at Brittany Ice Cream Social
On Saturday, June 10, 2023, the Trails at Brittany HOA hosted an ice cream social for their neighbors. Nearly 75 neighborhood residents came out to enjoy frozen treats and games. Staff from Police and Fire were on hand to interact with neighbors and offer an up-close look at a fire truck and squad car. Trails […]
Neighborhood Services Host In-Person Neighborhood Leaders Meeting
On Friday, June 9, 2023, the Neighborhood Services Department (NSD) hosted an in-person neighborhood leaders meeting at the CityView Events and Meeting Center. This was the first in-person meeting for the group leaders since March of 2020, when COVID-19 dictated a change to an all-virtual meeting format. Representatives from 27 of the City’s 45 registered […]
NSD Hosts Game Night at Hedge POP! Park
On Thursday June 9th, the Neighborhood Services Department hosted a Game Night event at Hedge POP! Park from 5-7pm. City staff from NSD, Champaign Police, and Equity and Engagement Departments were on hand to engage with Garden Hills youth at the park. These events are held each Thursday at a different park throughout the city. […]
Neighborhood Services Applies for IHDA Strong Communities Grant
Neighborhood Services staff members worked hard preparing an application to the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) Strong Communities Program (SCP), that was due June 7, 2023. This program funds local municipalities to help address affordable housing needs and community revitalization efforts. Consideration of these funds will aid in returning several vacant residential properties in Champaign […]
Code Compliance Division Tours Idea Garden
The Code Compliance Division of the Neighborhood Services Department recently toured the Idea Garden at the University of Illinois Arboretum. The inspectors attended to become more familiar with some common alternative vegetation. There is an area in front of the main garden that has some examples of alternative vegetation that is appropriate for planting in […]