COMMUNITY FEEDBACK FOR A POTENTIAL 1-Acre Farm

At Butler OR TWIGGS PARK

In October 2023, over 3,000 Evanstonians voted to bring a new one-acre farm to life, making Evanston Grows one of only seven projects selected out of 20 through Evanston's Participatory Budgeting process. Thanks to your support, we’re one step closer to reducing food insecurity and building a healthier community.

The City needs your input. After 1.5 years of extensive outreach with the City of Evanston and other partners, two finalist sites are located in the Fifth Ward for the location of the 1-acre urban farm: Butler Park OR Twiggs Park. Help us decide the new farm's location.

What is an urban Farm?

An urban farm is a community-based agricultural project located in a city or densely populated area where people grow food—often fruits, vegetables, and herbs—within or near urban neighborhoods. Urban farms are different from traditional rural farms in that they are designed not just for food production but also for community benefit, resilience, and education.

Learn More! Our potential plans for community feedback are here.

Remember, these plans are to solicit feedback and are not a final design.

Only one site will be chosen, and designs will be modified based on feedback from neighbors and the community at-large.

Scale

Urban Farms can range from small backyard plots to multi-acre community farms.

  • Butler Park is approximately 15-acres.

  • Twiggs Park is approximately 9-acres.

    Our proposed farm would encompass 1-acre of the either park’s footprint.

Benefits of a community Farm

The Evanston Urban Farm will be a vibrant space providing fresh, organic produce for FREE to Evanston residents. It will also create green jobs for local teens and adults, offer educational opportunities from gardening to cooking, and foster a stronger, more equitable Evanston.

Click here to learn more about the benefits of a community farm.

  • Free fresh produce for the community

  • Job Training for teens and adults

  • Educational field trips for area youth

  • Gardening, nutrition, art and other educational workshops

    Current Evanston Grows' 5th Ward Programming

    Evanston Grows' already partners with several community-focused urban farms and gardens, including an urban farm site at Faith Temple Church of God in Christ, Emerson Square Garden, the Evanston Food Exchange & Family Focus’ Foster Street Garden, IWSE, and Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center. Each of these spaces actively involves the community — through volunteer opportunities, youth field trips, job-training programs for interns, hands-on workshops, and free-food distributions.

    We have free-food distributions in front of Fleetwood on Tuesdays from June through October and at Faith Temple Church of God in Christ’s Food Pantry on Saturdays.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

There are many rumors swirling around, some of which are not factual. Here is a list of frequently asked questions regarding the proposed urban farm:

  • Is the urban farm a commercial farm? No. We don’t have tractors or any type of large machinery. Zoning will not be changed to commercial zoning.

  • Is the urban farm a gated farm? We will have a 4-ft fence, but only to keep wildlife out. The farm is in a park and will be a resource and gathering space for the community aligned with the mission of the park.

  • How will community feedback shape the farm? Thanks for asking! We are in the process of gathering feedback now. Scroll down to the next section. We’d love your input!

  • I’m worried about crime and property values. We have answers to these questions and more:

    Click here to see answers to other frequently asked questions.

Community Feedback Timeline

Let the City know what you think!

—>Evanston Parks & Recreation Urban Farm Community Feedback Survey <—

  • March 12th - First Community Meeting held at Fleetwood-Jourdain for community feedback regarding the two urban farm options (690 postcards were mailed to residents living within 500 feet of Butler Park and Twiggs Park inviting neighbors to give feedback).

  • April 1st - Community Feedback Survey launched by Evanston Parks & Recreation Department to solicit feedback from 5th Ward Residents.

  • April 15th - Second Community Meeting held at Fleetwood-Jourdain for for community feedback regarding the two urban farm options (Door knocking of the neighborhood by Parks & Recreation Staff occurred the week before the meeting & 690 postcards were mailed to residents living within 500 feet of Butler Park and Twiggs Park inviting neighbors to give feedback).

  • April 16th - Large signs hung at both Butler and Twiggs Parks with a QR code to the Community Feedback Survey.

    Upcoming Feedback seesions:

  • May 17th - Alderman Burns and Director Thompson of the Parks & Recreation Department to meet with neighbors of both parks. Please email Alderman Burns for details.

  • TBD - Third Community Meeting for feedback.

  • TBD - Proposal presented in front of the City’s Land Use Council.