Credit: City of Evanston

Evanston community members can enjoy a variety of free events and activities at parks and community centers throughout the summer as part of the My City, Your City, Our City initiative. 

Presented by the City’s Health and Human Services Department, Parks and Recreation Department, and local youth-serving organizations known as The Collective, My City, Your City, Our City (MCYCOC) will provide safe, fun and enriching summer activities geared towards youth ages 13 to 18 years old, as well as intergenerational activities for the whole family. The initiative will include free extended hours and programming at Evanston community centers, community-building events, and access to community information and resources. 

First Fridays return to Mason Park, June through August

Fridays, June 3, July 1 and August 5 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Each First Friday from June through August, community members of all ages can stop by Mason Park, located at Church Street and Florence Avenue, to enjoy free food, movies, an obstacle course, and a variety of games, including the Senior Foster Club Bingo Tournament in the Park.  Representatives from The Collective and other community organizations will also be on site to provide information on resources available to youth and families throughout the summer and beyond. At the event on Friday, June 3, community members are encouraged to wear orange in honor of Gun Violence Prevention Day. 

Expanded hours and free activities at Evanston community centers

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays beginning June 6, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

In addition to Gibbs Morrison being open nightly for youth to gather safely from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., youth ages 13 to 18 can visit the Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center (Mondays and Wednesdays) and Robert Crown Community Center (Fridays) for free indoor and outdoor weeknight activities provided by city staff and community social service organizations, including The Collective. Activities will include free food, the latest video games with tournaments and prizes, open gym with basketball skills challenges, enrichment activities, restorative circle groups and more. 

BLOCK (Bringing Love to Our Community and Kids) Parties 

BLOCK Parties are currently being planned and executed with existing and new block clubs to provide meaningful and safe ways for residents to have fun during the summer. BLOCK Parties are intended for building community within a certain radius of a block or community within a specified area. Therefore, the locations of BLOCK parties are not publicly advertised. Email youth@cityofevanston.org for more information.

Official MCYCOC Block Party

An Official MCYCOC Block Party open to all community members will take place on Saturday, June 25, from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., in Harbert-Payne Park, located at Main Street and McDaniel Avenue. This event will take place in coordination with the Honorary Street Naming for Chief Bill Logan, Evanston’s first Black police chief whose primary goal was to make Evanston a safe and equitable place for all.

The Collective is made up of local youth-serving organizations, including Connections for the Homeless, Curt’s Cafe, Erie Family Health Centers, Infant Welfare Society of Evanston, James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy, PEER Services, Youth and Opportunities United (YOU), and Youth Job Center (YJC).

For more information about My City, Your City, Our City events and activities, visit cityofevanston.org/safesummer or call/text 847-448-4311. For convenience, residents may simply dial 3-1-1 in Evanston.

Submitted by City of Evanston