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Evanston working group pilots 'mini public' engagement and free 'Hop Around Evanston' shuttle
Summary
City staff and neighborhood collaborators presented a pilot ‘mini public’ process to resolve a local basketball-court dispute and unveiled a free 'Hop Around Evanston' weekend shuttle funded by Northwestern and run with the Chamber of Commerce; organizers said the shuttle will run Saturdays 6–9 p.m. beginning April 4.
Claire Kelly, council member for the 1st Ward, invited the Town–Gown Community Working Group to present a set of new engagement tools aimed at improving relations between Northwestern University and nearby Evanston neighborhoods.
Elle Dacian Nicks, director of Evanston Community Relations, said the group attended the International Town & Gown Association conference and is adapting a model called a "mini public" to local issues. "We're the only unit that actually has residents go" to the conference and bring back practices to apply in Evanston, Nicks said.
Residents and working-group members described a mini public as a facilitated, stakeholder-driven process that gathers facts, gives participants a shared knowledge base, breaks into small facilitated groups, consults experts and then returns recommendations. "How do you actually problem solve?" asked Judy Lubin, a resident who helped explain the idea. "The point is to get different perspectives, have everybody listen to each other, and solve problems in a way that works for everyone." Maddie Strade, a professor in the School of Education, said the method reduces polarization by having small-group deliberations with expert input.
The working group proposed piloting the mini public on a narrowly scoped dispute: a renovated basketball court near Foster Walker dorm (Orrington). Julie Johnson, a nearby resident, said organizers plan to invite players, residents, student representatives, Northwestern and Evanston safety officials and parks staff to a one-meeting pilot to test possible stewardship, signage, programming and accountability approaches.
Separately, the group announced a free pilot shuttle, "Hop Around Evanston," developed with the Chamber of Commerce and paid for by Northwestern. Nicks said the pilot launches April 4 and will run Saturdays from 6 to 9 p.m., stopping at Davis/Chicago, downtown and other business districts to encourage students and residents to shop and explore local businesses. "It's completely free," she said, adding the pilot will run through June to identify pivots and sponsorship opportunities.
Committee members welcomed the proposals and asked the working group to provide dates and notes to the committee as the mini public is scheduled. The team said it will share materials and coordinate with city staff so that the committee can refer residents to the pilot results.
The working group did not set firm dates for the mini public itself at the meeting; organizers said they are still identifying stakeholder invitations and logistical details. The committee asked to be kept updated and to receive outputs for formal consideration at a future session.
