Evanston to Hold Mile-Long Block Party

The following is from the City of Evanston:

Evanston community members are invited to enjoy a mile of food, music, activities and open space during the City’s biggest block party ever, “Streets Alive!,” on Main Street, Sunday, September 7, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Main Street will be closed to motor vehicles between Hinman Ave. and Robert Crown Center during the free event, which includes four of the City’s nine aldermanic wards (2nd, 3rd, 4th and 9th) and spans two parks, a lively business district and a major transit hub.

Presented by the City of Evanston and environmental nonprofit Citizens’ Greener Evanston, the “open street” event will feature a variety of activities for all ages, including talent shows, limbo, hoola-hooping, sidewalk chalk art, basketball challenge games, badminton, a giant chess board, an imagination playground, local performing artists, food trucks, and much more. In addition to the activities, “Streets Alive!” will also feature plenty of car-free open space for all to enjoy.

“‘Streets Alive!’ gives Evanston community members an opportunity to experience our public streets like never before,” said Evanston Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl. “This free event is a great way to enjoy our beautiful city, meet your neighbors, support local businesses, and celebrate car-free modes of transportation.”

Elected officials, including state Senator Daniel Biss and state Representatives Robyn Gabel and Laura Fine, will also be available for “coffee and conversations.”

“I’m proud to partner with the City of Evanston and Citizens’ Greener Evanston on this unique, ‘open streets’ event,” said state Sen. Biss. “’Streets Alive!’ will not only help us visualize new ways to utilize and enjoy our precious public space, but it will also allow us to connect with our neighbors and friends, and grow closer as a community.”

This year’s event will feature a wide variety of activities, including:

“’Streets Alive!’ is an event that promotes healthy lifestyles and making connections through community engagement and mutual understanding,” said Evanston Township High School (ETHS) District 202 Superintendent Dr. Eric Witherspoon. “At ETHS we share the same goals for our students and staff. This is a great opportunity for us to join hands throughout our community to achieve an even stronger quality of life for people of all ages in Evanston.”

“Streets Alive!” is part of the City of Evanston’s livability initiative, which strives to create and sustain a high quality of life for all Evanstonians, as well as make Evanston an environmental leader among American cities. In 2013, the pilot project for “Streets Alive!,” “Shared Streets,” closed down a portion of Dempster St. to motor vehicles.

Major sponsors of “Streets Alive!” include the Evanston Bicycle Club, ETHS, Wesley Realty Group, and the Southeast Evanston Association. “Streets Alive!” has partnered with a number of organizations for the 2014 event, including the Evanston Chamber of Commerce, Piccolo Theatre, Unitarian Church of Evanston, Park School, Washington School, Rotary Club of Evanston, Bucephalus Bikes, Youth Organizations Umbrella (YOU), Evanston Environmental Association and the Main Street Station Merchants Association.

“The Evanston Bicycle Club, with over 500 active members in Evanston, the North Shore and Chicago, is pleased to join ‘Streets Alive!’ in support of cycling in Evanston,” said Evanston Bicycle Club Board Member David Boyce.

Learn more about “Streets Alive!” by visiting evanstonstreetsalive.org, or calling/texting 847-448-4311. To make a contribution to support “Streets Alive!,” visit www.indiegogo.com/projects/evanston-streets-alive--3.