Community members are invited to attend a kickoff meeting for the Evanston Community Habitat Project on Wednesday, March 15, 7 p.m., at the Morton Civic Center, 4th floor Parasol Room, 2100 Ridge Ave., in Evanston. 

The two-year project is the result of a $100,000 grant from the Chi-Cal Rivers Fund, administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The grant will fund improvements to 3.75 acres of bird habitat along an 1,100-foot section of the North Shore Channel in the Ladd Arboretum, as well as add bird-friendly plantings of native shrubs, understory trees, and forbs in Twiggs Park, Harbert Park, Ingraham Park and a fourth park to be determined.

At the kick-off meeting, attendees will learn more about the project scope, what areas will be impacted, and how to get involved. All interested community members are encouraged to attend.

The project will run from January 2017 through December 2018, and will be matched by $104,516 in City contributions and private funding. Much of the project work will include removing invasive plant species along the North Shore Channel and replanting those spaces with native and habitat-friendly plant species. The goal is to make the project spaces more habitat-friendly and appealing to both humans and the birds that make their homes along the channel.

For more information, please email EvanstonHabitat@gmail.com or call/text 847-448-4311. For convenience, residents may simply dial 3-1-1 in Evanston.