The Evanston Ecology Center groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, April 19 attracted residents there to celebrate 50 years of the center.
While eyes were on a row of gleaming silver shovels with City of Evanston municipal artwork embossed above the shiny tip, people attending the groundbreaking ceremony also noticed a mosaic of keepsake photos of possibly familiar faces. Children and their smiles were documented on the poster.
But one youthful face also stood out and was real time and in person. This was Rosie Shevick, 4, who had the honors of using a ceremonial shovel to dig into groundbreaking soil just as adults had done.
Rosie’s mother is Ellie Shevick, newly selected president of the City of Evanston Parks and Recreation Board, and also secretary of the Evanston Parks Foundation. Mother and daughter were part of the audience.
“Evanston has a lot to offer for children and families and all adults,” Rosie’s parent said, adding the groundbreaking was, “a special moment.”
This event included speeches from city leaders and had a theme of commemorating the past 50 years of the Ecology Center at 2024 McCormick Blvd.
The Evanston Ecology Center also celebrated its 50th anniversary with an Earth Day Fest on Saturday, April 20.
The Ecology Center is closed and fencing is around the perimeter. The renovation project is expected to be completed this October while programming continues at other parks and recreation facilities.
The Ecology Center was built in 1974. Improvements will include a new reception desk and waiting area, renovated classrooms, washrooms and office spaces.
LEED Silver certification is sought, but with a Gold goal too, and all electric mechanical systems will make the facility zero on-site carbon emissions, according to the city.
The contract amount is $2,318,999 and funded by general obligation bonds and aligns with the City of Evanston’s Climate Action and Resilience Plan (CARP), also according to on-site signage. Donor support assisted the project’s momentum.
Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss was among groundbreaking speakers and said the community needs spaces like the Ecology Center.
“We need places to be together, we need beautiful places, we need places to learn, and we need to work on our sustainability and goals that we really care about, that people love,” Biss said. “And so to see this community center upgraded in a way that’s going to be beautiful, that people are going to love, that’s consistent with our sustainability goals, it’s exciting, I feel really happy today.”
Evanston’s Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation Matt Poole welcomed the audience.
“We’re excited that the project’s being done,” Poole said. “And we’re excited for the City of Evanston’s commitment to the Ecology Center and to environmental education.”
Evanston 7th Ward Councilmember Eleanor Revelle, whose ward houses the center, also addressed the audience.
“For 50 years, it’s (Ecology Center) been the heart of environmental education for our community,” Revelle said, calling the Ecology Center, “much loved” and “much used.”
“I’m really so glad that the city is investing in this major renovation,” Revelle said. “It’s an important resource for the community. I’m delighted.”
Evanston 2nd ward Councilmember Krissie Harris attended and called the renovation, “progress.”
Harris remembers playing on the grounds of the Ecology Center along the channel as a youth while growing up in the nearby 5th Ward. Harris was pleased that Rosie Shevick helped to turn dirt at a groundbreaking moment.
“I was her age and that’s so important the legacy of later on, looking back and saying, ‘I remember this,’” Harris said about Rosie. “I grew up on Foster and Brown which is a two minute walk from here. I would ride my bike through this,”
April Hughes, president of Nurture Architects, spoke at the podium.
“We’re the design architect for the renovation,” Hughes said. “This is a facility that not only I’ve used but my children also used.”
Hughes, of Chicago, lived in Rogers Park for about 10 years so she has spent a lot of time in Evanston.
“I really love the community,” Hughes said.
Learn more about the Ecology Center renovation at https://www.cityofevanston.org/government/departments/parks-recreation-community-services/ecology-center.
Karie Angell Luc is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.
