Evanston council accepts Parks and Green Space Strategic Plan; staff warned 80% of playgrounds are in poor condition

The City Council voted Feb. 23 to accept and place on file the Parks & Green Space Strategic Plan, a multi‑year roadmap that sets priorities for park investments, natural area stewardship and program expansion.

Rhiannon Sinclair, principal and urban planner with Agency Landscape + Planning, presented key findings: outreach to more than 700 residents and stakeholders; five goals (equitable access, natural experiences, sustainable operations, welcoming water access and adaptability); and 85 recommended actions with 19 priority items. Sinclair told council that 80% of Evanston playgrounds are currently in poor or very poor condition and that, at current replacement rates, it would take 29–57 years to replace playgrounds citywide.

Why it matters: The plan commits the city to a prioritized, evidence‑based approach to parks spending and operations. Council members highlighted the backlog and urged staff to identify near‑term projects and funding strategies to accelerate repairs and replacements.

What the council did: After questions about implementation, monitoring and partnerships, the council accepted and placed the plan on file by roll call (8–0). Director Audrey Thompson said staff will integrate the plan into budgeting and report back periodically on progress.

Next steps: Staff will work with Public Works and other departments to phase implementations, refine cost estimates, and report back to council at regular intervals. The plan’s action tables provide timelines and priority markings intended to guide capital and operating decisions.

Provenance: Presentation, outreach summary and council acceptance begin at SEG 1658 and the roll call acceptance is recorded at SEG 2321–SEG 2324.