Evanston dogs wag their tails as Councilmember Jonathan Nieuwsma looks to add a dog park to Grey Park. This comes after a series of animal-based issues recently saw favorable City Council action, including reopening Evanston’s dog beach and approving a $6.85 million contract for a new animal shelter.
“Evanston residents love their pets and we need more dog parks,” Nieuwsma said. “We want to make Evanston a warm, friendly and welcoming place for everyone, especially after COVID when we saw a pet adoption surge.”
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This would be the city’s second dog park, joining Skokie Park District and City of Evanston jointly operated Pooch Park, at 3220 Oakton St. in Skokie. The city also reopened its dog beach this March after being closed for three years due to concerns regarding high water levels.
Nieuwsma said he has been pondering additional uses for Grey Park, at 1501 Main St., but nothing seemed to stick. Originally he thought a garden would fit well but the tree-filled park is too shady to properly grow produce. After further thought, the dog park idea surfaced. He said Evanston residents have previously expressed desire for another dog park but couldn’t agree on a location.
“The previous council had done a broad, general look at dog parks and identified the need for more of them, showing that demand exists in the community — this goes back three plus years,” he said.
City Council explored a dog park again in 2021 when Clark Square Park was a top contender to serve as its host. Nearby residents did not like the idea of hosting the park in their own backyard, according to Nieuwsma. Dawes Park, Centennial Park, Lovelace Park and Burnham Shores Park were also considered in 2021.
“Evanston previously considered a dog park at Clark Square Park,” Nieuwsma said. “That received a lot of blowback from nearby residents.”
But things may be different with this new Grey Park proposal as Nieuwsma says “folks who live right next door to the park have been supportive of the idea.”
The Grey Park suggestion comes from an equity lens too, Nieuwsma said. There are several multifamily homes nearby where residents don’t have a private backyard to let their pets roam around, he told Pioneer Press. Grey Park’s location would help directly address this issue facing the city’s pet owners, Nieuwsma said.
Residential psychiatric rehabilitation facility Albany Care patients and visitors frequently visit the park as well, according to Nieuwsma. He said having a dog park could be less disruptive to patients than other potential uses. Nieuwsma wrote in his referral that Albany Care patients usually use the park’s eastern portion and the dog park would likely not interrupt that section of the park.
Nieuwsma discussed the dog park at his 4th Ward meeting on March 7 where he gauged resident interest in the project, which he said was positive. He officially submitted his referral on March 8, which is co-sponsored by Councilmembers Krissie Harris and Juan Geracaris of the 2nd and 9th Wards.
He said public input will be included in the process with mailers on how to offer feedback likely going out in a few months. If all goes as Nieuwsma hopes, he said the dog park could open by the end of next year.
Corey Schmidt is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.