Fitness classes, intramural sports, outdoor adventures, aquatics. These are just a few ways to stay physically active at Illinois. The Division of Campus Recreation maintains the most extensive facilities of any university in the country and is currently undergoing a $77 million renovation and expansion project that will add a climbing wall, leisure pool, juice bar, and additional fitness and multi-purpose space to existing facilities that include more than 10 gymnasiums, 4 competition pools, 3 indoor running tracks, weight and fitness equipment centers and racquet sports; other facilities include an ice arena, outdoor adventures center, inline skating rink, and outdoor playing fields. The university operates two 18-hole championship golf courses and a driving range as well.

The broad grassy expanses of the university’s famous quads are host to Frisbee-players, soccer games and sunbathers in almost all weather. The Champaign Park District is regularly recognized for national excellence adding to the appeal of the surrounding community. Local parks offer ball fields, horseshoes, playgrounds, tennis courts, nature trails, picnic areas, sand volleyball, fishing and skiing ponds, sledding hills, swimming pools and community garden plots. The university’s Robert Allerton Park and Conference Center is 30 minutes from campus in Monticello, Illinois and offers hiking trails and formal gardens on 1,500 acres. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources maintains 15 state parks and natural areas within an hour’s drive of campus.