Sign Up For City Newsletters
Text Size
Translate
About Us
The City of Evanston is dedicated to creating the most livable city in America. The Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department plays a critical role in creating opportunities to improve the overall quality of life for residents. Our department encompasses 76 parks, 50 playgrounds, 12 facilities, 6 beaches, an ice rink, and 5 community gardens all within our 7.8 square mile radius.
Our Mission
The City of Evanston’s Parks and Recreation Department is committed to enhancing the quality of life of all citizens by providing collaborative opportunities for our community to grow, learn, create and play.
Comprehensive Master Plans
The City of Evanston continually undertakes various planning projects to ensure it meets the community's evolving needs. To better serve community members, the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department follows multiple comprehensive plans rather than a single one. Here are the plans that guide our department's planning process.
Categories always sorted by seq (sub-categories sorted within each category)
Documents sorted by SEQ in Ascending Order within category
Documents sorted by SEQ in Ascending Order within category
Strategic Planning
2024: PARKS AND GREENSPACE STRATEGIC PLAN
In 2024, the City of Evanston finalized its latest Parks and Green Space Strategic Plan. Through collaboration with community members, the Parks and Recreation Board, and City staff, a plan was developed to identify and prioritize key needs. Guided by our mission, this plan outlines four primary goal areas and overarching objectives. The Parks and Green Space Strategic Plan is a tool the City of Evanston Parks and Recreation Department and Public Works Agency will use to guide their management practices, capital investment priorities, and overall strategy for the next ten years.
2001: PARKS STRATEGIC PLAN PART 1
The Parks Plan proposed significant renovations to the Robert Crown Center, construction of new basketball courts, renovation and irrigation of fields, and renovations to 14 park areas. The plan found significant maintenance issues with indoor and outdoor facilities and proposed improvements throughout the system.
2001: PARKS STRATEGIC PLAN PART 2
The Parks Plan proposed significant renovations to the Robert Crown Center, construction of new basketball courts, renovation and irrigation of fields, and renovations to 14 park areas. The plan found significant maintenance issues with indoor and outdoor facilities and proposed improvements throughout the system.
2016: PARKS SCORECARD
The Open Space Score Card for Evanston was prepared through an extensive survey of community priorities, demographic trends, and rigorous field inspections of public open spaces in 2016. Recommendations included addressing infrastructure and maintenance issues, developing signage standards, improving drinking fountains, enhancing restroom facilities, and addressing playground equipment deterioration.
Comprehensive Master Plans
2000: CITY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
The first City-wide Comprehensive Plan was completed in 2000 and is currently undergoing an update that began in 2023. The City Comprehensive Plan includes recommendations to ensure City parks and recreation facilities are high quality and accessible to all residents. The plan also includes goals to increase the number of parks but acknowledges the limited land available for new parks. The plan also recommends ongoing maintenance for lakefront parks, the canal, and recreational amenities.
2006: CITY OF EVANSTON STRATEGIC PLAN
This plan features an overall vision, mission, and specific goals for infrastructure, natural resource areas, neighborhoods, and social service programs. These goals fall under 3 value areas: economic viability, environmental sustainability, and strengthening the community.
2007: LADD ARBORETUM MASTER PLAN
The Ladd Arboretum Master Plan was created to address deferred maintenance of the grounds, building, policy, and governance needs and to establish standards for stewarding the Arboretum grounds.
2008: LAKEFRONT MASTER PLAN
To preserve and enhance the lakefront park system, the plan addressed signs of overuse, environmental considerations, such as LEED ratings and “Dark Sky” lighting, and accessibility improvements. It emphasized creating a welcoming, visually accessible space along Lake Michigan.
2012: PARKS AND RECREATION STRATEGIC PLANNING REPORT
This strategic planning process aims to better prepare the PRCS Department for the future through a mix of internal assessment and an assessment of external influences of the organization. Forward planning can enable a municipality to take advantage of future opportunities.
2014: BIKE PLAN
Building on the City’s efforts to upgrade and expand the cycling network to attract more riders in Evanston, the plan found that while the network had grown substantially since the previous plan in 2003, many corridors needed safety and comfort improvements. Recommendations were also made to enhance connectivity, especially to major destinations.
2017: COMPLETE AND GREEN STREETS POLICY
Ranked among the best in the nation by Smart Growth America, Evanston Complete and Green Streets policy aims to enable safe and convenient movement across all transportation modes regardless of age or capability. The policy created an implementation framework to ensure the policy was incorporated into all new projects.
2019: CLIMATE ACTION AND RESILIENCE PLAN (CARP)
Evanston faces numerous environmental challenges, such as intense storms, invasive species, and temperature increases. The CARP aims for carbon neutrality and 100% electric recreation facilities by 2050, 100% clean and renewable electricity by 2030, and zero waste by 2050, and emphasizes both climate mitigation and resilience efforts.
2019: STREETLIGHT MASTER PLAN
This plan evaluated 107 separate lighting systems that manage around 6,000 light fixtures across the City of Evanston, including those in parks and community centers. It provided recommendations to enhance uniformity, increase energy efficiency, and implement more innovative monitoring systems.
2019: STORMWATER MASTER PLAN
The plan, completed in 2019, assessed the City's sewer system’s performance and identified capital improvements. The study evaluated flooding and drainage systems in parks, open spaces, and community center parking lots. The plan also addresses water quality, non-point source pollution control, green infrastructure controls, and aquatic habitats.
2022: EVANSTON ADA TRANSITION PLAN
This strategic initiative aimed at improving access for individuals with disabilities to City programs, services, parks, facilities, and public right-of-way. It focused on eliminating potential barriers hindering participation in the City’s cultural and economic activities. By prioritizing ADA access, the plan sought to enhance accessibility and instill a citywide culture of inclusivity.
2022: EVANSTON PROJECT FOR THE LOCAL ASSESSMENT OF NEEDS (EPLAN)
In collaboration with the Health and Human Services Department, health professionals, and community members, this plan identifies and prioritizes health concerns, resulting in a comprehensive plan with targeted interventions and community-driven strategies to enhance public health in Evanston. The plan highlights the importance of public parks and recreational programs in supporting the well-being of our community members.
2023: EVANSTON THRIVES
Aiming to chart a course to revive Evanston’s struggling commercial and retail districts, the plan revised the former downtown plan. The Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department manages and offers programs in park spaces within these business districts, including Independence Park and Fountain Square. The plan addresses how the department can organize specific events to attract community members to our business districts.
2025: ENVISION EVANSTON
This comprehensive master plan, now in its final stages, is designed to guide our community's growth, development, and prosperity for the next 20 years. This ambitious plan is designed to ensure that Evanston continues to be a thriving and inclusive place to live, work, and play for all.
