Champaign African American Heritage Trail adds new sign in Urbana

Jared Thomas
·1 min read

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — Champaign County is adding to its African American Heritage Trail. The 10th sign went up last week on Ellis Drive and Goodwin Avenue in Urbana, recognizing a prominent Champaign physician.

The new sign honors Doctor Harry D. Ellis, who was one of the first to provide healthcare services to African-Americans in the community. It also celebrates the Ellis Drive subdivision for being one of the first neighborhoods created for Black community members in the area.

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“Really great things have happened there and are continuing to happen there,” Experience Champaign-Urbana Development Management Tim Oravec said. “And so we want to make sure that that history is recognized and celebrated, both to honor the past, but also — hopefully — to inspire people today and well into the future.”

Oravec said the goal is to have a total of 23 signs up on the trail before the end of the year.

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