A city naming contest drew 605 entries from 304 residents. The winner was two words: Dog E-Town.
The fenced-in off-leash dog area at Grey Park officially opens Sunday, Aug. 30, at 10 a.m., giving Evanston's Fourth Ward a dedicated space for dogs to run free. The Evanston Parks and Recreation Department announced the opening on its Facebook page, along with a playful "Dog E-Town Needs a Mayor" campaign inviting pet owners to share photos of their dogs and finish the sentence "If I ruled..."
The name came from a contest the Parks and Recreation Department and Fourth Ward Councilmember Jonathan Nieuwsma organized in February. Residents submitted ideas from Feb. 10 through Feb. 22, staff narrowed the field to ten finalists, and community voting ran from March 3 through March 16. The finalists included Waggly Field, Sniffytown, Zoomie Zone and Canine Commons.
Former Seventh Ward Councilmember Jane Grover submitted the winning entry. She represented northeast Evanston on the City Council from 2009 to 2015 and was recognized at the March 23 City Council meeting alongside City Manager Luke Stowe, Councilmember Nieuwsma, Parks and Recreation Director Audrey Thompson and Mayor Daniel Biss, according to the Evanston Roundtable.
"It's meaningful to residents," Grover told the Roundtable in April about the community-driven naming process.
What dog owners need to know
Existing Evanston Dog Beach Pass holders will have access to Dog E-Town with no additional pass required, according to the city's website. One pass covers both locations.
The Parks and Recreation Department's Facebook post notes that Evanston police can ticket owners whose dogs are off leash outside designated areas. The post references daily times of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., though whether those are gate-opening times or full hours of operation is not yet clear.
The new dog park arrives as Evanston weighs more than $16 million in park and recreation upgrades for the coming year, according to Patch. The largest share of that funding is earmarked for a Mason Park expansion and new nature trail.
Questions about Dog E-Town can be directed to Tim Carter, Lakefront and Athletics Division Manager, at [email protected] or 847-448-4311.
