Dodds Park

Dodds Park
Dodds Park
	Dodds Park Softball Complex
Location	Champaign, Illinois
Coordinates	40°07′53″N 88°16′58″W / 40.13139°N 88.28278°W
Area	110 acres (45 ha)
Elevation	748 feet (228 m)
Created	1969
Operated by	Champaign Park District
Status	Open all year
Public transit access	MTD

Dodds Park is located in northwestern Champaign, Illinois near Parkland College. This 110-acre (45 ha) park (roughly one fifth of the total Park District holdings) is noted for the "Tribute to Olympic Athletes Monument" on its grounds. The park was purchased in 1969 for the sum of $298,495.

Facilities[edit]

The park has 7 lighted baseball fields and 12 soccer fields on its grounds.^[2] Additionally, it features a small playground and picnic tables.

Champaign County Workers' Memorial[edit]

The memorial was dedicated on Labor Day September 2, 2002, and serves as a memorial to those workers who had lost their lives while working on the job. The memorial consists of two tablets which bear the names of those who have died working in Champaign County.^[3]

Tribute to Olympic athletes[edit]

The "Tribute to Olympic Athletes" was created to honor those residents of Champaign County who have competed in the Olympics. To date 41 athletes are commemorated on the monument since the tribute's dedication on July 4, 1991.^[4] The monument consists of several rising plateaus forming a walkway leading to a large granite gateway. Beyond the gateway a pedestal overlooking the playing fields in Dodds Park is inscribed with the names of those who have represented Champaign County in the Olympics.

Notable Olympic athletes[edit]

Jean Driscoll, Wheelchair racing, 5x , 3x , 4x , 2000 Sydney, 1996 Atlanta, 1992 Barcelona, 1988 Seoul
Bonnie Blair, Speedskating, 5x , , 1984 Sarajevo, 1988 Calgary, 1992 Albertville, 1994 Lillehammer
Bob Richards, Pole Vault, 2x , , 1948 London, 1952 Helsinki, 1956 Melbourne
Nichole Millage, Paralympic volleyball, 2x , 2012 London, 2008 Beijing
Tyler McGill, 4 × 100 m medley, , 2012 London
Robert Espeseth, Rowing, , 1976 Montreal, 1980 Moscow, 1984 Los Angeles, 1988 Seoul
Gia Lewis-Smallwood, Discus, 2012 London
Karen Brems-Kurreck, Cycling, 2000 Sydney
Dwight "Dike" Eddleman, High Jump, 1948 London

References[edit]

^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Dodds Park
^ "Dodds Park". ExploreCU. Retrieved 2014-01-18.
^ "LABORER'S MEMORIAL". Archived from the original on June 22, 2013. Retrieved July 24, 2013.
^ "Olympic Tribute Dedication Event". Archived from the original on October 22, 2013. Retrieved July 24, 2013.

[1] U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Dodds Park

[2] "Dodds Park". ExploreCU. Retrieved 2014-01-18.

[3] "LABORER'S MEMORIAL". Archived from the original on June 22, 2013. Retrieved July 24, 2013.

[4] "Olympic Tribute Dedication Event". Archived from the original on October 22, 2013. Retrieved July 24, 2013.

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Cultural places and events	Boneyard Creek Campustown Champaign Park District Centennial Park Dodds Park Champaign Swarm (MPBA) Ebertfest: Roger Ebert's Film Festival Illinois Marathon JSM Challenger of Champaign–Urbana Krannert Art Museum Market Place Mall Orpheum Children's Science Museum Staerkel Planetarium State Farm Center Virginia Theatre UIUC Main Library
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