Visit University Park Will Illinois and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover the University Park in Illinois! Here you will find the great University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and many attractions. Recreation at the Moraine Hills State Park or the Meadowbrook Park, food at the renowned restaurants of the city. Enjoy the visit of the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts!
What makes University Park sights so special is the peculiar mix of rural serenity and the quiet drones of a university city, which has slowly collapsed from the Kornfeld since the 1960s. I remember driving the first time by train from Chicago over the Metra line to University Park – a short stop, then a short walk through the main road, where the old barns are next to brand new student residences and seem to overtone each other. The story goes back to the 19th. Century, when the area was part of the Monee Townships and was mainly inhabited by farmers who sold their harvest on the fertile soil of Will County. Today, the whole thing is a bit like a film where the main role is played by Illinois State University, while the side roles are taken over by the few but charming cafés and the endless field paths.
I have to admit, I don't understand the hype about the campus parties, but the weekly peasant market meeting on Saturday morning is really great – fresh apples, homemade apples and a touch of nostalgia that reminds you of why you came here at all. When you arrive by car, take the I‐57 and follow the signs to University Park; the ride is short, the parking is usually free and you immediately feel that you are somewhere between the city's bustle and endless field. And yes, if you ask yourself where you have something to do in the evening, then just look what the students are organizing – this is often the most lively piece of the little town I have ever experienced.
This guide invites you to discover the hidden corners of University Park, and I promise you that I will unpack more than just the usual tourist clichés.
Honestly, the first thing I love about this tiny spot in Monee Township is that University Park Golf Club. I was there on a lukewarm Saturday afternoon when an older gentleman in a neon-green polo shirt told me that the 18-hole facility was “a piece of peace in the midst of the suburban trout”. The place is surprisingly well maintained – the greens are faster than my last online dating match, and the view over the wide fields makes you almost forget that you are just minutes away from Highway 45. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the local business people turn their weekly “golf-to-work” rounds.
A short walk (or a short sprint, depending on the mood) leads you to University Park Library. I must confess I spent more time there than I wanted to admit – not because of the books, but because of the cozy reading corner, where an old record player plays quiet jazz and barely penetrate the city sounds. The library is part of the Will County Library system, so you have access to a huge digital archive that even impressed my grandmother. And yes, Wi-Fi is faster than the Internet in my parents' house back then.
If you're looking for a place where you can feel like a real local, that's it. University Park Community Center That's right. I took part in a yoga course where the instructor told more about her cats than about the Asanas – a real Ice-Breaker. In addition to fitness courses, the Center also offers art exhibitions of local talents, and the best: The parking spaces are almost always free as long as you do not visit the weekly Bingo tournament.
A small detour to the south brings you to Reservoir. I threw out my fishing there, just to see that the fish here are just as skeptical to tourists as I do to the local fast food chains. The lake is a popular spot for kayaking and families that picnic on the shore. The path around the reservoir is well developed, and I even discovered a few rare wild flowers that I previously only knew from picture volumes.
The University Park Trail connects the reservoir with the heart of the village and is a perfect mix of asphalt and gravel. I straightened the trail on a autumn morning when the leaves lit in all conceivable red tones – a sight that would have silenced even the hardest Instagram influencer. The path is signposted, but don't let the few missing signs irritate you; this is almost a feature that awakens the discovery spirit.
Another highlight I don't want to conceal is the annual Summer festival in the center of University Park. I remember the year when I accidentally stumbled into the Hüpfburg for adults and sang a spontaneous duet with a local band there – no joke, the audience was thrilled. The festival offers local food stands, crafts and a fireworks that transforms the sky above the Monee Township into a sparkling spectacle.
And because I don't just want to mention the usual sights, here's a little secret tip: The Deli on Main – an inconspicuous place that serves the best pastrami sandwiches wide and wide. I spent my lunch break there more than once, because the staff always greeted me with a smile and the portions are generous. This is for me a real piece of University Park attractions that you don't find in every guide.
At the end of the day, the feeling that University Park has more to offer than one would suspect at first glance – a mix of quiet green spaces, small cultural highlights and a community that carries its peculiarities with an eye-catcher. So next time you drive through the Monee Township, stop, breathe in the fresh air and let yourself be surprised by the small but fine details.
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