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Government > Departments > Parks, Forestry & Recreation > Parks > Lakefron Picnic Reservations

Parks/Forestry & Recreation

PICNIC RESERVATIONS

 

From Memorial Day to Labor Day these guidelines are in effect. The remainder of the year the picnic areas are used on a "first come, first served" basis for small, informal gatherings. Permits are required for groups of 30 or more or to reserve a picnic or park. Permits are not issued on the day of your picnic.

 

Rules regarding picnics/gatherings in City of Evanston parks

 

Park Permit Application (pdf) This form was revised on June 6, 2008.

This form is only to be used for Leahy Park, Mason Park, the Lighthouse "Beach" picnic shelter and Harbert Park (canal lands). Harbert Park use is restricted because there are no bathrooms on site.

 

Photo of picnic at Centennial Park

LAKEFRONT PARK PICNIC RESERVATIONS

Permits for all lakefront parks except the Lighthouse "Beach" picnic shelter are issued ONLY by staff at the Dempster Street Beach Office, Dempster Street at the lake. Please note their hours of operation before visiting the Office.

  1. Lakefront parks are:
    Garden Park at Keeney St.
    Elliott Park at Dempster St.
    Dawes Park - Greenwood St. to Church St.
    Centennial Park - Church St. to Clark St.
  2. Permits are issued in blocks of two or four hours. All permits begin on the odd hours from 9:00 a.m. through 9:00 p.m. Parks officially close at 11:00 p.m. (Ordinance 65-0-79) and must be vacated at that time.
  3. Permits are sold to Evanston residents only. Please bring proof of residency. The fee for reserving space is $30 for two hours or $50 for four hours. Refunds are issued ONLY a) in case of rain, or b) if cancellations are made with a minimum of 72 hours notice. No exceptions.
  4. Any tables not posted as reserved may be used by any person on a first-come, first-served basis as long as the gathering is fewer than 30 persons.

You may bring extra seating, if needed. You may use personal barbecue grills, as long as they are used in an area where other grills are located. Please dispose of coals properly.

Before obtaining a permit, please read these regulations

1. Bonfires are not permitted. Proper precautionary measures must be taken to extinguish hot coals. Extinguished coals should be placed in the concrete pipe located adjacent to the grill. Never empty grills against tree trunks or at base of trees! Serious damage to trees will result over time.

2. By City Ordinance, no alcoholic beverages are allowed in City parks.

3. All paper, debris, bottles and garbage must be collected and deposited in trash containers.

4. Picnic tables located in lakefront parks may be reserved by Evanston residents only. Proof of residency is required. Lakefront picnics are limited to 100 people. For information on picnics with more than 100 people, call 847.866.2900.

5. Cars, trucks, and motorized equipment may not be driven into parks, onto beaches or picnic areas.

6. By City Ordinance (Title 9, Chapter 4, Sec. 7C) dogs are not allowed in any park, at any time, without a leash.

Note: Picnic reservations will be limited at Dawes Park and Centennial Park on festival weekends, as well as on those Fridays for set-up and Mondays for clean-up.

Lighthouse Beach Picnic Shelter

Starting in 2008, rentals are processed by the Evanston Recreation Divison. Please downlod the 2-page application (pdf) at the top of this page. For more information, please call 847.866.2900.

SheltersPhoto of Lagoon Building at Dawes Park

Lagoon Picnic Shelter

The Lagoon Picnic Shelter is located adjacent to Lake Michigan, at the north end of the lagoon at Dawes Park, Sheridan Road at Church Street. The building has three indoor picnic tables, public washrooms and an outdoor grill. Evanston residents can rent the shelter from 11am-8pm, daily, from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 2008. The fee is $30/hour (1 hour minimum). Reservations can be made at the Dempster Street Beach Office.

 

View from Lagoon Building patioLagoon shelter reservations will not be available on Tuesday evenings between July 22 and Aug. 26 due to Starlight Concerts in Dawes Park. Reservations also will not be available due to special events at Dawes Park on the following dates: July 1-7; July 16-22 and July 30-Aug. 5, 2008.

 

At left, the view from the Lagoon Building's patio.