Twiggs Park along the canal will expand as the result of an agreement the city has reached with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.
The City Council tonight approved leasing the land on the south side of the canal from Ashland Avenue southeast to the existing park at Dewey Avenue.
Twiggs Park along the canal will expand as the result of an agreement the city has reached with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.
The City Council tonight approved leasing the land on the south side of the canal from Ashland Avenue southeast to the existing park at Dewey Avenue.
The site once was the location of Evanston’s vehicle testing station and part of it more recently was used by the landscaping firm Permalawn.
Public Works Director David Jennings said a portion of the land will be used this year to recycle pavement from the McCormick Boulevard resurfacing project.
Parks Director Doug Gaynor said once the resurfacing work is done the land will be used to expand the park and provide parking for up to 40 cars of park users.
The space will become the trail head for the Green Bay Trail bike bath that runs along the canal into Chicago.
Mr Gaynor said the city plans to take steps to make sure the lot isn’t used for commuter parking or other non-park-related uses.
The 30-year lease will cost the city $10 per year. Eighty percent of the $250,000 cost of developing the expanded park is to be provided by a federal grant.