Evanston150 Announces Top 30 Ideas For Evanston

According to Evanston150, more than 500 members of the Evanston community participated in selecting the top 30 ideas for Evanston's future over the October 15-16 weekend. Public voting sessions were held at the Century Cinema, Evanston Township High School and Saint Francis Hospital. Voters were presented with the top 100 ideas, selected by a 21-member volunteer selection jury from a pool of over 2,000 ideas submitted by the public between March and July of 2011. 

In the final step, the panel of judges will select 10 visionary  ideas that have broad community acceptance, a visionary outlook, and make a long-term impact to celebrate Evanston’s 150th anniversary in 2013.

The top 30 ideas as determined by the popular vote are:

• Create year-round indoor/outdoor farmers market.
• Provide free wireless internet access throughout Evanston.
• Make Evanston a truly bike-oriented city.
• Create a pedestrian/bikeway on Old Mayfair rail spur.
• Make Evanston an award winning walkable city.
• Create urban farms in neglected space.
• Build vocational/technical school with regional employment opportunities.
• Become one of the greenest cities in the United States.
• Promote responsible water use and conservation.
• Offer free community gardens, greenhouses, and composting sites.
• Establish comprehensive low-income health and wellness clinic.
• Consolidate City and Township governments.
• Provide universal preschool for all.
• Consolidate school districts 65 and 202.
• Keep lakefront commercial free.
• Expand residential urban gardening and composting.
• Free beach access for Evanston residents.
• Make D65 & D202 top school districts in the United States.
• Plant 2,013 trees.
• Develop self-sufficient and sustainable energy resources.
• Become a carbon-neutral city.
• Extend bike/walking paths between Evanston and Chicago.
• Increase energy efficiency in buildings.
• Establish branch libraries throughout Evanston.
• Establish dental clinic for low-income families.
• Develop co-op technical school for under-served youth.
• Institute Evanston community day of service.
• Bury all overhead utility cables and wires.
• Install permeable pavement throughout Evanston.
• Create a youth career and leadership center.

The Final 10 Announcement Event will take place Thursday, November 10 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Levy Senior Center, located at 300 Dodge Avenue. Join community members of all ages for the anticipated unveiling of the 10 ideas selected to celebrate Evanston’s 150th Anniversary in 2013. Enjoy music, refreshments and the opportunity to get involved in community organizing efforts around the 10 projects.