Community Gardens

Community Gardens

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The City of Evanston offers residents 220 plots for rent from March through mid-November at these sites:

  • James Park Gardens, south of Oakton between McCormick Blvd. and Dodge Ave.

    This is a locked site. In addition to full and half plots, this site has 3 raised beds.

  • Twiggs Canal Gardens, by the intersection of Bridge and Simpson, on the south side of North Shore Channel in Twiggs Park. This site has full and half plots and eight raised beds.
  • McCormick Gardens, at McCormick Blvd. and Bridge St., across the street from the Ecology Center. In addition to full and half plots, this site has 1 wheelchair-accessible raised bed.
  • Lighthouse Gardens, off of Sheridan Road, north of the Grosse Point Lighthouse and adjacent to Noah's Playground for Everyone in Lawson Park

    This is the smallest site with 9½ plots.

Depending on the overall schedule, weather and availability, the City provides wood chips and a water source at each site as part of the community gardening program. Gardeners must sign a waiver and a gardening agreement, which includes providing 1½-3 hours of community garden service each season in addition to the annual plot fee.

2010 Fees

Full Plot (approximately 400 square feet): $75 plus 3 hours of community garden service

Half Plot (approx. 200 square feet): $37.50 plus 1½ hours of community garden service

Twiggs Canal Gardens has raised beds for $35 and James Park has raised beds for $25.

The raised beds are approximately 20 inches off the ground for ease of use. There are discounts for Evanston Environmental Association (EEA) members and seniors (age 55+). Fee assistance is available to qualified Evanston residents. This is program is strictly available to Evanston residents. Tto participate in this program, you must live in ZIP code 60201 or 60202 and provide proof of residency at the time of payment.

Interested gardeners can stop by the Ecology Center at 2024 McCormick Avenue and pick up a brochure and a sign-up form. To request having the materials sent via e-mail, gardeners can contact Karen Taira at ktaira@cityofevanston.org.

Sign-up to the garden rental wait list is open and ongoing. Prospective gardeners will be put on the waitlist when the sign-up form is received by the Ecology Center. For additional information, please call 847.448.8256.

Evanston Ecology Center / Ladd Aboretum website