Boneyard Creek Improvements

Linear park provides access to a once untouchable creek.

For over a century, Boneyard Creek was a hazardous, flood prone, walled stormwater channel winding through downtown Urbana, Illinois. Wenk Associates developed a master plan and construction documents for restoring a ¼-mile section of the creek to an open, flowing stream and linear park, with proposals for redevelopment of private development sites along the creek edge.

Boneyard Creek Park which is sandwiched between two roads, is located on a site of significant grade change between the streets and the creek. The restored creek channel and banks enhance the flood conveyance and manage the ten-year flood event all while creating multiple opportunities for access to the creek’s edge. Through the use of creative grading, the addition of attractive terraces and a series of usable walls, accessible routes were created to the once untouchable creek.

The linear park spaces include trails, mounded landforms for informal seating, picnic and gathering areas, and a small event space offering opportunities for daily use and scheduled events. Reuse of a turn-of-the-century railroad bridge creates a pedestrian connection to redeveloped spaces at the street level.