Current Challenges

Comprised of indoor and outdoor recreationalfacilities and set within large auto-oriented blocks,
this district is largely vehicular oriented, characterized by large parking lots and open spaces with a lack of visual consistency and cohesive branding. Key entry points, like Neil Street and W. Kirby Avenue, are vital for campus events given the location of the State Farm Center, Memorial Stadium and the many athletics destinations along this corridor such as baseball, softball and tennis.

These entry points currently fail to provide an optimal visitor experience, especially with inadequate pedestrian crossings and safety issues.

Stakeholder input highlights the need for additional gateways to better welcome visitors. Large parking lots contribute to significant runoff and strain on utilities, while Stadium Terrace remains underutilized outside of game days, with potential for improved tailgating experiences and community engagement.

District Enhancements and Future Development

To address these challenges, the CLMP proposes several improvements for the Industrial and Athletics Districts, as Kirby Avenue connects them. New vehicular gateways at Neil Street & W. Kirby Avenue and Neil Street & Stadium Drive will enhance campus arrival points, with additional gateways at S. First Street & Kirby Avenue to strengthen connections between Grange Grove and Stadium Terrace.

The plan also includes working with the City of Champaign and City of Urbana to implement a complete streets approach on Kirby Avenue will include increased tree canopy, a linear rain garden for runoff management, and larger pedestrian queuing areas. Consistent landscape standards will be applied, incorporating site furnishings, LED lighting, and branding elements like the “Illini” block letters at S. Oak Street & Kirby Avenue.

Additional upgrades include replacing the Physical Plant Service Building fence with an opaque, branded version and transitioning the low mow landscape on the south side of Kirby Avenue into a native meadow landscape to promote sustainability.

The CLMP recommends several improvements to enhance Kirby Avenue as a key connector between the Industrial and Athletics Districts. New vehicular gateways are proposed at Neil Street & W. Kirby Avenue and Neil Street & Stadium Drive to reinforce campus arrival and highlight key landmarks like the State Farm Center and Memorial Stadium. These gateways should also be applied to railroad underpasses in coordination with the City of Champaign. A secondary gateway at S. First Street and Kirby Avenue will mark the campus core and visually connect Grange Grove to Stadium Terrace.

A complete streets approach should be integrated along Kirby Avenue from Neil Street to Lincoln Avenue, including a tree canopy on the south side between S. Oak Street and S. First Street to create a narrowing effect. A long, linear rain garden will manage runoff from parking lot E-14 and set an aesthetic tone for plantings. Larger pedestrian queuing areas at S. Oak and S. First Street will enhance safety, with highly visible crosswalks throughout.

The district should follow CLMP’s “Landscape Standards,” ensuring consistent site furnishings like bicycle racks, benches, lighting, and signage. LED street lighting and branding elements, such as an “Illini” block letter sign at S. Oak Street and Kirby Avenue, should be implemented. The existing Physical Plant Services Building fence on Kirby Avenue’s north side should be replaced with an opaque fence to screen service areas, complemented by native plantings to enhance the campus aesthetic.

Additionally, the low mow landscape on Kirby Avenue’s south side between Neil Street and Oak Street should transition into a native or adaptive meadow landscape, reinforcing Illinois’ sustainability goals in this high-traffic corridor leading to the stadium and arena.

The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics will develop a future athletics master plan to meet the needs of the Athletic District, align with donor expectations, and create a unified athletics image. Landscaping should integrate with the broader campus while maintaining unique elements suited to athletic venues, such as cohesive fencing and pylons around Grange Grove.

The Fighting Illini Promenade within the Athletics Quad can be enhanced with small courtyards and visitor amenities during events. A continuous fence around the Athletics Quad will improve access control and reinforce its identity, similar to the Grange Grove fence. Smart irrigation systems should also be incorporated into athletics facilities.

St. Mary’s Road should maintain its passive, rural character to preserve its historical and agricultural significance while continuing to attract the campus community. However, to improve safety for joggers and pedestrians, a sidewalk should be added along St. Mary’s Road and Goodwin Avenue, leading to a proposed gathering plaza at the Round Barns entrance.

Prototype Project Implementation: Kirby Ave. from S. Oak to S. First Street

The fencing and brick pillars at Grange Grove should continue along Kirby Avenue, wrapping the corners of Stadium Terrace at S. Oak Street to formalize its place within the campus experience. This will extend the visual indicators of Grange Grove and create more defined entry points.

A sculptural “I” at the center entry of Stadium Terrace should be considered to reinforce the area as a gathering space on game days. Providing passive recreation programming at Stadium Terrace would ensure accessibility for the campus community at all times. Additionally, goals for disc golf should be included to meet the demand for a dedicated space for this activity on campus.

A linear rain garden along the north edge of parking lot E-14 will provide rainwater management and enhance the walking experience in this corridor. Since many students’ first impression of campus comes from parking and walking here, improvements are essential.

Large parking lots, including E-14 and the State Farm Center lot, should transition to permeable surfaces when repaving is required, using permeable pavers or asphalt. Additional parking islands with trees and bioretention should also be incorporated.

Engineered soils should be used where possible within Stadium Terrace to improve infiltration. A substantial tree canopy should be added to create a shaded, comfortable space when not in use for tailgating.

iCAP Goal Contribution

• Increases pollinator-friendly planting by 11,000 sq. ft.
• The proposed program and composition of the combined prototype along Kirby Avenue treats approximately 185,600 cubic feet of rainwater through approximately 155,000 sq. ft. of permeable paving.
• Increases tree canopy by 174,240 sq. ft.

Prototype Project Implementation: Kirby Ave at Memorial Stadium
(Illini Plaza)

The mid-block crossings east of S. First Street along Kirby Avenue should be consolidated into a single prominent crossing when redevelopment occurs on the south side of Memorial Stadium. This new pedestrian crossing from the State Farm Center parking lot will be used on game days when this block of Kirby Avenue is closed to vehicular traffic, creating a safer and more visually appealing entry into Memorial Stadium. The proposed solution includes transforming the crossing area into a “pedestrian plaza” and narrowing the crossing distance. Future planning for this improvement should be coordinated with DIA planning.