New landing site at Ryan Field for medical helicopters - test landing at Ryan Field on Tuesday, June 12

Please see this message from the Evanston Fire Department:

For at least the last 25 years, the designated landing site for emergency medical helicopters has been the northeast portion of the City of Evanston Water Treatment Facility located at 555 Lincoln Street. Typically, medical transport helicopters from private ambulance companies or hospitals landed there about four times per year in total to conduct specialized medical transports to/from both St. Francis and Evanston Hospitals.

Due to ongoing and planned construction at the Water Treatment Facility, that site has been closed and, in collaboration with Northwestern University and Superior Ambulance Company, the City has established, through an MOU, an alternate landing site at Ryan Field. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, this temporary site will be used until February 2020. At that time the need and location for a permanent landing site will be re-evaluated.

Weather permitting, a test run of this new landing site will occur on Tuesday, June 12th at 9:00 a.m. At that time, a medical transport helicopter from Superior Ambulance will perform a practice landing at Ryan Field, with representatives from Northwestern University and the Evanston Fire Department on hand to evaluate any operational and safety considerations. If all goes well at the test run, Superior Ambulance would be allowed to use the new site going forward until 2020. Please be advised that if Ryan Field is being used for any particular large-scale activity (e.g., commencement, football games, etc.) the site would not be available for landings, as determined by NU.