Evanston Parks and Recreation Board revises strategic plan

The Parks and Recreation Board voted 4-2 to consolidate select departmental responsibilities in its Parks and Green Space Strategic Plan on Thursday.

The plan aims to make the city more livable through developing recreation programming, managing green space and vegetation within the city and developing capital investments.

Under an amendment introduced by Vice President Robert Bush, the Greenways division of the Public Works Agency — responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the city’s parks — will be placed under the management of the Parks of Recreation Board and Department by Jan. 1, 2029. 

“Nothing in the city ordinance says that Public Works is in charge of city park operations,” Bush said. “It just seems to have happened.”

According to Deputy Director Matt Poole, the amendment, which is subject to approval by the City Council, will allow for more seamless communication concerning matters that the board already coordinates with Greenways, such as lawn care, pick up of refuse containers and weed control.

“If [Greenways is in] our department, then it’s easier to try and get things moved along,” Poole said.

In addition to amending its 10-year strategic plan, the board also approved applications for both new and returning community affiliates and appointed one of its members to the Natural Area Ordinance Task Force, which is working to revise language related to designating areas of the city as natural areas and defining permissible use of those areas. 

The strategic plan will be sent to City Council for further discussion before its scheduled adoption in 2026, according to Board President Ellie Shevick.

“I’m glad we could weigh on the Strategic Plan — it was our main focus,” she said. 

The board removed a section of the plan that aimed to build a year-round pool in the city. Instead, the city would identify partners and affiliates that can provide residential access to indoor pools. Northwestern was named as a potential partner. 

Many community affiliates, such as the American Youth Soccer Organization and Evanston Baseball and Softball Association, had their statuses as affiliates renewed. These organizations offer services separate from the department, but affiliate status grants them discounts and early access to the city’s public facilities, Poole said. He added that a large amount of Evanston’s youth are a part of these sports programs.  

Director Audrey Thompson also shared updates from staff around the city. The city received $1 million in grants from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and two Community Development Block Grants to fund the completion of parks, Thompson said. 

The Twiggs Park Playground will be fully covered by the grants, with full completion scheduled for Jan. 6. Construction on the Chandler-Newberger Community Center’s playground is expected to start on the first of the new year. The Grey Park Dog Park construction, which began in late October, is being slowed by weather, Thompson said. 

The board is also set to vote on playground construction at James Park at its next meeting, Thompson said. The park recently saw the conversion of its six tennis courts into 15 pickleball courts.

“The courts have been completed with the exception of the windscreen and sound attenuation,” Thompson said. “They’re on back order. As soon as they’re in, our contractors will put those in early.” 

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