Allerton, or Robert Allerton Park, is a park and conference center owned by the University of Illinois in Monticello, IL – about at 20 minute drive from campus. The grounds were used as a country house by Robert Allerton, the heir to a Chicago banking and stockyard fortune, before he moved to Hawaii in 1949 when the grounds and buildings were given to the University of Illinois.
It is a great area, used by many University groups – students, faculty, and stuff – for conferences, leadership retreats, and other important events. A well-known part of Allerton to students is the Ropes Course, used to teach teamwork and leadership.
Unfortunately, Allerton recently announced that due to University budget tightening, some of their programs must be discontinued.
Citing tight finances, Allerton Park has placed several programs on hiatus, including day camps and music concerts.
Summer day camps for children will not be offered, but the 4-H Memorial Camp programs will continue.
AdvertisementThe Music in Nature Concerts, which were held outdoors in the park during the summer, will not be held this year. However, the University of Illinois School of Music’s Allerton Music Barn Festival in early September is still on.
“Given the university budget and the state budget situation, we’re trying to be as careful as possible. We want to be as careful with our resources as we can,” said Jim Gortner, the park’s associate director.
News-Gazette: Lack of money forces Allerton Park to cut programs
University of Illinois: Robert Allerton Park
