The City of Champaign has reached a major milestone in its ongoing effort to bring meaningful improvements to the Garden Hills neighborhood. Phase 2 of the Garden Hills Infrastructure Improvements Project is nearly completion, bringing noticeable changes to the community and laying the groundwork for the next round of upgrades in Phase 3.
Led by the City with support from Clark Dietz, the Garden Hills project focuses on solving long-standing drainage and flooding issues, improving street safety and lighting, and making the neighborhood a better place to live and gather. As each phase is completed, the vision of a safer, more connected, and more welcoming Garden Hills becomes a reality.
“Work is ongoing for both projects, with Phase 2 in its final year and Phase 3 just having started this summer, said Project Manager Keary Roberts, PE. “Phase 2 has definitely been more visible to the public due to the open nature of the detention basin site and high visibility from Mattis Ave., but both phases are making significant progress and working to relieve the impact of flooding throughout these neighborhoods.”
Phase 2 Update: Construction Underway on Major Neighborhood Enhancements
Construction for Phase 2 of the Garden Hills Infrastructure Improvements Project is actively underway, bringing the neighborhood closer to long-awaited improvements focused on drainage, safety, and livability.
One of the most significant components of this phase is the new detention basin—a large green space designed to collect rainwater during storms and reduce flooding across the neighborhood. This basin will do more than manage stormwater. It’s being designed as a community amenity, with walking paths, benches, lighting, native landscaping, and recreational features such as basketball courts and playground equipment. The goal is to create a space that functions like a small park, supporting both neighborhood resilience and quality of life.
“We get a lot of comments on the scale of the basins being put in, but we’ve had several significant rain events during the course of both projects that highlight just how necessary this work is,” Keary said. “The impact of any significant rain is almost immediate through this area, and even without the system being complete and fully functioning the amount of water that the basins take shows exactly what we’re working to fix here.”
Another major feature of Phase 2 is the full reconstruction of Hedge Road, a key thoroughfare in Garden Hills. This work includes rebuilding the roadway with new concrete pavement, adding sidewalks on both sides, improving street lighting, and updating storm sewer infrastructure. When finished, these upgrades will make Hedge Road safer and more accessible for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists while helping to address long-standing drainage issues.
As construction progresses throughout 2025, residents can expect to see continued transformation across Garden Hills. Phase 2 will lay the foundation for even broader improvements in the next phase, bringing the community closer to a safer, stronger, and more connected future. Phase 2 is set to be completed later this year.
What’s Next: Phase 3 Moves Forward
With Phase 2 nearing completion, attention is now turning to Phase 3, which will bring many of the same neighborhood upgrades to additional areas of Garden Hills.
Phase 3 places a strong emphasis on stormwater infrastructure, including the installation of new large-diameter storm sewers beneath key residential streets such as Paula Drive and Cynthia Drive. These underground improvements will help direct rainwater to the new detention basin, protecting homes from flooding during heavy storms. Phase 3 is scheduled to be completed no later than 2027.
Beyond the underground work, surface improvements will follow a “complete street” model—providing smoother roadways, sidewalks on both sides, modern street lighting, and safer conditions for everyone, whether they’re walking, driving, or biking.
This phase also includes the construction of a new storm sewer outlet system to reduce flooding in areas north of Garden Hills Elementary School—an upgrade expected to make a meaningful difference for nearby families and students.
Lighting the Way
Across all phases, Garden Hills is also seeing a major boost in street lighting. In total, about 120 new overhead streetlights are being installed throughout the neighborhood, along with upgrades to existing ones. The lighting design includes pedestrian-friendly features at intersections and mid-block locations to enhance safety at all times of day.
The new lighting system supports the City’s broader Safety Lighting Energy Efficiency Program (SLEEP), which aims to bring better lighting to all homes in the Garden Hills area, making the entire neighborhood feel safer and more welcoming.
Building Momentum
Each phase of the Garden Hills project brings residents one step closer to a neighborhood that is better connected, more resilient, and designed with the needs of families in mind. With Phase 2 now complete, the momentum continues. Phase 3 will expand those improvements even further—delivering cleaner, safer streets, better drainage, and more public spaces to enjoy.
“The contractors are making every effort to minimize inconvenience to the residents as they work through each stage, but the residents have been overwhelmingly understanding of the necessity and appreciative of the improvements,” Keary said.
We’re proud to continue partnering with the City of Champaign on this vital project and look forward to seeing the continued transformation of Garden Hills.
Project Manager: Keary Roberts, PE
For a deeper look at our contributions in Garden Hills, explore our full project portfolio.
To understand the broader impact of this work, visit the City of Champaign Public Works Department’s Garden Hills Neighborhood Improvements page.
This project was also spotlighted in the Design Develop Construct Journal—read the feature article here.
Garden Hills is a key part of the City of Champaign’s broader stormwater management strategy. Learn more about the master plan here.
This effort builds on previous success, including our work on the West Washington Street Watershed Drainage Improvements & Community Green Space project.
