Thursday, March 19, 2026 | View in browser
Good evening,
Read below for information about food and yard waste carts and bulk trash updates, playground renovation meetings, bird migration season, and more!
 Food & yard waste cart deliveries begin soon
As part of Evanston’s new year-round Food and Yard Waste program, 35-gallon carts will begin arriving at eligible households early next week and continue through the end of March. Residents who did not opt out will automatically receive a cart.
Please note: There will be no spring bulk trash pickup this year. Instead, the City’s new special pickup pilot program allows residents to schedule additional bulk waste collections through the 311 Center.
For more information about cart delivery, service changes, and how to request additional pickups, visit cityofevanston.org/wastetransition.
Share your ideas at playground renovation meetings
Share your input on playground improvements at Eggleston Park, Burnham Shores, and Snyder Park. Join us for any of the upcoming Public Meeting #2 sessions and help shape the future of these community spaces!
Eggleston Park: Tuesday, March 24, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Evanston Ecology Center, 2024 McCormick Blvd., Multipurpose Room
Burnham Shores: Wednesday, March 25, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Lincoln Elementary School Cafeteria, 910 Forest Ave.
Snyder Park: Thursday, March 26, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Lincoln Elementary School Cafeteria, 910 Forest Ave.
 Help birds fly safely this spring
Millions of birds will migrate through the Midwest over the next few months, and nighttime lighting can increase their risk of colliding with buildings and other structures. Community members are encouraged to turn off all non-essential lights from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. to help keep birds safe.
Ways to help prevent bird collisions:
- Turn off or dim non-essential exterior lights
- Close curtains or blinds to reduce indoor light escaping
- Avoid lighting lobbies, plants, or fountains that may attract birds
To track migration activity, visit birdcast.info.
 Evanston showcases Love Your Block projects
The City hosted representatives from the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation on March 12-13 to review its first-round Love Your Block Grant projects. The visit included a neighborhood asset-mapping exercise and a tour of 32 sites showcasing resident-led revitalization. We look forward to reviewing year-two project ideas and continuing community-led neighborhood improvements in 2026!
More News and Events
Get ready for the Chicago Stars home opener this Sunday
The City is excited to welcome the Chicago Stars FC for their first home game of the 2026 season! The match kicks off at 1 p.m. on Sun., March 22, at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. Residents may notice an increased presence of visitors and activity near the stadium before and after the game, and are encouraged to plan accordingly.
Don’t trash your election signs, recycle them!
The City’s Public Works Agency is offering a drop-off location at 2100 Ridge Ave. in the parking lot at the back of the building for residents to recycle corrugated plastic election signs following this year’s primary. The drop-off will be available through March 24.
The 2026 benchmarking season is in full swing
The City’s Healthy Buildings Ordinance requires covered buildings to submit annual reports to the City on their energy and water use, including data such as total water, electricity, and natural gas consumed. Reporting of 2025 energy and water data is due by June 30, 2026. Buildings with gross floor areas of 20,000 sq. ft. or greater, excluding condos that are smaller than 50,000 sq. ft. must submit building energy and water use at an aggregate level using the free ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool. Learn more about the benchmarking process.
Hope Around Evanston: free shuttle pilot begins April 4
Starting April 4, Northwestern University and the Evanston Chamber of Commerce will pilot the Hop Around Evanston shuttle, running Saturdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The shuttle will make it easy to explore Evanston’s downtown and neighborhood business districts. Learn more about the shuttle route.
Join in for the next Putting Assets to Work community meeting
Join the City's next Putting Assets to Work community meeting at 6 p.m. on Wed., March 25, at the Robert Crown Community Center to help reimagine three City properties: the Former Civic Center, Noyes Cultural Arts Center, and Police & Fire Headquarters. We want your input!
Get Engaged
Community Calendar
That’s it for today's e-news. Thanks for reading!
Sincerely,
The City of Evanston Communications Team
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