The Top 30 Ideas are in for Evanston's Future!
Over 500 community members weighed in on the top 100 ideas during a series of seven public voting sessions held at the Century Cinema, Evanston Township High School and Saint Francis Hospital. The 100 ideas up for vote were selected by a 21-member volunteer selection jury from a pool of over 2,000 ideas submitted to the Evanston150 initiative by the public between March and July of 2011.
It was gratifying to see the wide range of Evanstonians who turned out to have a say in the future of their community. Many thanks to all who voted, and to the many volunteers who helped staff the voting weekend, and of course our venue hosts Century Cinema, Evanston Township High School and Saint Francis Hospital.
The top 30 ideas as determined by the popular vote are:
• Create year-round indoor/outdoor farmers market.
• Provide free wireless internet access throughout Evanston.
• Make Evanston a truly bike-oriented city.
• Create a pedestrian/bikeway on Old Mayfair rail spur.
• Make Evanston an award winning walkable city.
• Create urban farms in neglected space.
• Build vocational/technical school with regional employment opportunities.
• Become one of the greenest cities in the United States.
• Promote responsible water use and conservation.
• Offer free community gardens, greenhouses, and composting sites.
• Establish comprehensive low-income health and wellness clinic.
• Consolidate City and Township governments.
• Provide universal preschool for all.
• Consolidate school districts 65 and 202.
• Keep lakefront commercial free.
• Expand residential urban gardening and composting.
• Free beach access for Evanston residents.
• Make D65 & D202 top school districts in the United States.
• Plant 2,013 trees.
• Develop self-sufficient and sustainable energy resources.
• Become a carbon-neutral city.
• Extend bike/walking paths between Evanston and Chicago.
• Increase energy efficiency in buildings.
• Establish branch libraries throughout Evanston.
• Establish dental clinic for low-income families.
• Develop co-op technical school for under-served youth.
• Institute Evanston community day of service.
• Bury all overhead utility cables and wires.
• Install permeable pavement throughout Evanston.
• Create a youth career and leadership center.
The top 30 ideas are now under review by the Evanston150 Selection Jury. They will select the final 10 visionary ideas, with broad acceptance, the potential for long-term impact, and specific, actionable and measurable results. The final 10 ideas will be announced on Thursday, November 10 from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. at the Levy Center (300 Dodge Avenue) at the "Black Tie" & Blue Jeans celebration, and event where we'll celebrate our ideas and get down to work on Evanston's future. More information about Evanston150 is available at www.evanston150.org.