The City of Evanston is offering its recreation centers and library locations during normal operating hours as warming centers during the current spell of extremely cold weather.
Those facilities, and their hours of operation, are:
- Robert Crown Community Center, 1701 Main St., Monday through Sunday, 5:30 a.m. to midnight.
- Chandler-Newberger Center, 1028 Central St., Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Evanston Ecology Center, 2024 McCormick Blvd., Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center, 1655 Foster St., Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Gibbs-Morrison Cultural Center, 1823 Church St., Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Levy Senior Center, 300 Dodge Ave., Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St., Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Main Evanston Public Library, 1703 Orrington Ave., Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. abd Sunday, noon to 6 p.m.
- Evanston Public Library – North Branch, 2026 Central St. , Monday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Evanston Public Library – CAMS Branch, 900 Chicago Ave., Monday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The city is also offering a variety of tips on how to handle the cold.
Staying Safe Outdoors
Wear several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. Wool offers good protection from extreme cold and moisture.
Don’t forget to wear a hat, gloves and scarf. In extreme cold, frostbite can occur within 60 seconds or less. Make sure to cover all exposed skin.
Restrict outdoor exposure for infants, children and pets.
Keep your cell phone charged in case of emergency.
Staying Safe Indoors
Never use your oven for heat.
Use electric space heaters with extreme care, and avoid placing them near curtains or other flammable materials. Be sure to turn them off before going to bed.
Keep cabinet doors open under kitchen and bathroom sinks overnight to help prevent frozen water pipes, and insulate water pipes in unheated spaces, like garages, basements and crawl spaces.
Install and maintain smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in every level of your home, replacing the batteries at least twice a year.
Drink water. Staying hydrated is just as important in the winter as in summer.
Staying Safe on the Road
Don’t run your car or truck in your garage, even if you leave the door open, and make sure the tailpipe is clear of snow, ice and other debris.
Ensure antifreeze levels are sufficient to avoid freezing.
Maintain a full tank of gas.
Prevent Water Service Lines from Freezing
During cold weather, property owners should take precautions to prevent the water service line from freezing:
Insulate or wrap UL-listed heat tape around water pipes.
Keep cabinet doors open under kitchen and bathroom sinks overnight.
Run water at a small trickle.
Set the thermostat no lower than 55 degrees.
For water line issues, community members are advised to follow the tips posted at cityofevanston.org/frozenpipes or call/text 847-448-4311.
Contact 311 for Assistance
The 311 Center is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Please call/text 847-448-4311 or dial 3-1-1 in Evanston for assistance and to report any issues.