Some Evanstonians want city officials to consider converting the former recycling center into an indoor recreation facility.
Evanston Baseball and Softball co-president David Campbell presented aldermen at recent city council meeting with a proposal to use the existing recycling center an indoor recreation facility for youth and adult sports.
Campbell’s proposal was endorsed by members of the city’s Playground and Recreation Board, who said the plan would provide a valuable amenity to the city’s athletic affiliates and recreation programs, and would complement nearby James Park, called by many the “crown jewel” of Evanston parks.
The recycling center, which closed in August, sits in between James Park and the Evanston Animal Shelter, and is across the street from a commercial development that includes a Steak ’n Shake, Home Depot, PetSmart and Aldi.
Aldermen decided to create a subcommittee to explore future uses of the recycling center site, but they appeared split on the idea of a sports facility.
Ald. Ann Rainey, 8th, indicated she was not in favor of an indoor sports facility at that location, unless it was something the entire community wanted.
“One of the things that I don’t want to see happen at this little corner of James Park is I do not want to see another exclusive use of indoor soccer, indoor this, indoor that, where people pay huge amounts of money to participate, and only a small part of the community play those games,” she said.
“It isn’t the vision that I’ve always had for James Park, and that is to be so inclusive that anybody can play,” she added.
Rainey suggested that community input is needed before a decision is made.
“This is something that this council should not be directing at this point in time,” she said. “It should be opened up to the community so that people can say what they would like to see there. Who knows, somebody might want to see a restaurant. Somebody might want to see a bowling alley, like I want to see there.”
Ald. Coleen Burrus, 9th, wanted to make sure that any future use of the recycling center is considered from an economic development viewpoint. She said that while James Park is active in the summer, cold weather “deactivates it.”
While agreeing with the need to gather community input, Ald. Don Wilson, 4th, asked that indoor recreation not be discounted.
“Indoor sports presents a great opportunity for not a small or a minority of the kids in Evanston, but thousands of kids participate in youth sports in Evanston,” he said. “These are huge numbers, and those opportunities in a northern part of the country that we live in are very limited in the wintertime.”
Wilson said he knows people drive long distances to participate in indoor athletic activities, and having such a facility in Evanston could drive economic development in that area. He also said that the plan should include either the expansion or creation of a “first-class” animal shelter facility.
Evanston partners with the volunteer organization, Community Animal Rescue Effort, in operating the animal shelter. Plans are in the works to renovate the shelter using money raised by C.A.R.E. as well as city funds.
C.A.R.E. board member Gail Lovinger told council members that her organization was open to the idea of moving the shelter, if it best serves the city’s interests. However, she said the decision to move the shelter should be made only after a new location is identified.
Lovinger identified possible revenue opportunities — such as animal boarding, dog day care, training and grooming — that could be incorporated into plans for a new shelter.
“Please, whatever you’re going to do, as much as possible expedite the solution,” she asked aldermen. “C.A.R.E. has been working toward this expansion feels like for most of my life at this point. Our volunteers and our supporters have heard so many times that this is really going to happen. We really need to do something.”
