Evanston officials will hold two meetings next week to gather public comment on possible improvements to two city parks.
At 7 .m. on Tuesday, March 16, residents will have a chance to discuss potential donated improvements to Firemans Park, located at Simpson Street and Maple Avenue. Alderman Delores Holmes, 5th Ward, and parks staff will be on hand for the session in Room 1700 of the Civic Center.
At 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 18, plans for a demonstration rain garden at Howell Park, located at Hartzell Street and Walnut Avenue will be discussed, starting with a site visit to the park, followed by a discussion at 7 p.m. at the North Branch Library, 2026 Central St. Aldermen Mark Tendam, 6th Ward, and Jane Grover, 7th Ward, will be there, along with parks department staff.
For more information about either project call 847-866-2912 or 847-866-2914.
Rain garden
A rain garden (http://www.raingardennetwork.com/faq.htm) sounds like a wonderful idea for any number of reasons, including moderating storm sewer overfilling, efficient pollution filtering and creation of a slightly different habitat for water-loving plants and creatures. A badly constructed garden, however, which doesn’t completely drain in less than a day or that includes open unscreened rain barrels, would provide a perfect breeding ground for clouds of West Nile fever/St. Louis encephalitis-carrying Culex mosquitos. Proper design would be key. http://www.raingardennetwork.com/mosquito.htm