Evanston City Council to Vote on Parks Strategic Plan on Monday

The plan aims to guide development of parks, facilities, and programming over the next decade.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Evanston's City Council will meet on Monday to vote on approving the new Parks and Green Space Strategic Plan, which has been in development for over three years. The plan is intended to provide a framework and goals for developing the city's parks, facilities, and programming over the next decade. However, the plan does not include recommendations to consolidate parks operations under the Parks and Recreation Department, which the Parks and Recreation Board has advocated for.

Why it matters

The strategic plan will set the direction for Evanston's parks and green spaces for the next 10 years. It's a key policy document that will guide investment and development decisions. The debate over consolidating parks operations under one department also highlights ongoing tensions between the City Council, City Manager, and Parks and Recreation Board over governance and oversight of the city's parks system.

The details

The draft plan that the City Council will vote on was developed over several years through public meetings, workshops, and hundreds of community surveys. It does not include goals for consolidating parks operations, which the Parks and Recreation Board has recommended. The board believes this consolidation would improve efficiency and decrease chain of command issues. The biggest change the board called for is moving the city's Greenways Division, which is responsible for parks maintenance and investment, from the Public Works Agency into the Parks and Recreation Department.

  • The City Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, February 24, 2026 to vote on the Parks and Green Space Strategic Plan.
  • The strategic plan has been in development for over three years.

The players

Audrey Thompson

Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Evanston.

Alex Ruggie

Corporation Counsel for the City of Evanston.

Luke Stowe

City Manager for the City of Evanston.

Ellie Shevick

President of the Evanston Parks and Recreation Board.

Jonathan Nieuwsma

4th Ward Councilmember for the City of Evanston.

Matt Rodger

8th Ward Councilmember for the City of Evanston.

Jeanne Lindwall

Member of the Evanston Land Use Commission.

Max Puchtel

Member of the Evanston Land Use Commission.

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What they’re saying

“The Parks and Recreation Board believes the City should take action to combine all parks and recreation stewardship, operations, maintenance, management, capital improvement projects' budgeting and recommendations… under the Parks and Recreation Department. This consolidation will improve efficiency and decrease chain of command concerns.”

— Ellie Shevick, President, Evanston Parks and Recreation Board (evanstonroundtable.com)

What’s next

The City Council will vote on Monday whether to approve the new Parks and Green Space Strategic Plan. If approved, the plan will guide Evanston's parks development and programming over the next decade.

The takeaway

The strategic plan represents a key policy decision for Evanston's parks system, but the debate over consolidating parks operations under one department highlights ongoing governance challenges between the City Council, City Manager, and Parks and Recreation Board. The outcome of Monday's vote will set the direction for Evanston's parks for years to come.