UNITY PARK VISION / PROPOSED PARK VANDALIA, ILLINOIS
unityparkA FAMILY YMCA INITIATIVE
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT / THE HUMAN SIDE

Belonging starts
with being included.

A park can be where a stronger community begins: with a shared experience, a new friendship, a little room to grow.

✳
THE OPPORTUNITY

More reasons to go outside.
More ways to come together.

Unity Park’s proposed mix of play, nature, art and sports is designed to welcome different interests, ages and abilities into the same community space.

Proposed interactive music garden in an Utz + Associates Unity Park rendering
A place for discovery and shared experiences. Utz + Associates concept rendering.
BEYOND THE LANDSCAPE / A PLACE THAT COMES ALIVE

Imagine a day
at Unity Park.

The project summary explores ways the park could support a fuller community life. These are programming ideas, not an announced calendar.

MOVE / CONNECT

A morning with more room.

A walking club meeting on the trails. Gentle group fitness outdoors. Time for older adults to move and socialize.

HEALTH & WELLNESS
DISCOVER / LEARN

Let curiosity lead the way.

Nature activities, hands-on science, storytime or an outdoor learning lab connecting families with local educators.

YOUTH & OUTDOOR EDUCATION
CREATE / GATHER

Stay for one more song.

A community concert, a student art showcase or a small outdoor performance. Shared experiences that give people a reason to come together.

ARTS & COMMUNITY
A CAMPUS FOR MORE THAN RECREATION

New paths to learning. Close to home.

The vision also includes career exploration, college-led demonstrations and lifelong learning. Those possibilities connect the park to a broader goal: a stronger, more connected Vandalia.

Meet the partnership behind the vision ↗
ROOTED LOCALLY / LOOKING REGIONALLY

A stronger sense of place.
A wider invitation.

The ambition is a destination that gives people in Vandalia and surrounding counties more reasons to gather, explore and return.

Public art, performances, inclusive recreation and a connected campus could strengthen quality of life and cultural discovery. Regional tourism and community investment are goals, not measured outcomes or forecasts. Accessibility is a design priority; final routes and facilities require further review.

01

Play that
invites everyone.

Different ways to experience the world.

Sensory and woodland play can make room for curiosity, imagination and choice. The aim is an environment where more children and families can participate together.

INCLUSION & DISCOVERY
02

Everyday
well-being.

A little more movement. A little more nature.

Walking trails, shade and outdoor spaces offer more opportunities for everyday activity and a change of pace close to home.

NATURE & MOVEMENT
03

Shared moments.
Lasting connections.

Give people a place to gather.

Music, public art, performances and sports can bring neighbors together through interests they share and experiences they discover.

CREATIVITY & CONNECTION
THE VISION IS SIMPLE

A community space
should feel like
your space.

Explore what’s proposed
THE NEXT CHAPTER STARTS WITH US

Make room
for what’s possible.

Start a
conversation
UNITY PARK / THE VISION IN DETAIL