An open plaza area, interactive fountain and a war memorial take center stage in the newly-completed Fountain Square in downtown Evanston, increasing outdoor seating and event space in the city.

Lara Biggs, Evanston’s engineering and capital planning bureau chief, said her goal was to make Fountain Square a more welcoming place where people could sit and socialize, reflect on the memorial and attend town events.

“As long as there’s been Evanston, there’s been a Fountain Square,” Biggs said. “The improvements for Fountain Square really opened up the plaza, and it also made the veterans memorial a real focal point.”

The previous fountain, which was installed in 1976, had built up a number of maintenance issues, and the size of the fountain took up most of the usable space within the plaza, Biggs said.

The project was approved in March 2017 by City Council, and took over a year to complete. However, despite the intrusiveness of the project, most businesses were able to stay open during construction, Biggs said.

“One of the great things about this project is (that) the business community surrounding the plaza and in the downtown area have been so good to work with,” Biggs said. “They have really come to the table and been supportive of the project, and the city is really grateful for that.”

Peggy Thordarson has worked in the downtown Evanston area for 20 years, and said she feels the space is more open and accommodating now.

“The feel of it is different, I like it more than the way it was before,” Thordarson said. “I like that the water is more accessible, especially with little kids and stuff like that. It just feels a lot more open for the community, and it’s easier to stop and sit and eat lunch.”

Biggs said that when the fountain is turned off, the plaza can provide a space for city events and veteran ceremonies.

This past summer, Fountain Square was the location of exercise classes, dance recitals, the Kits, Cats and Kids Block Party, as well as the free 10-week concert series, Thursday Night Live.

Downtown Evanston executive director Annie Coakley said she is looking forward to more community events being hosted at Fountain Square.

City officials are currently discussing plans to have other major celebrations, such as Oktoberfest and the Holiday Tree Lighting, take place in Fountain Square.

“We have this beautiful improved area in the center of Downtown, and we will make sure it’s maintained by not just keeping it clean, but by promoting the event and programming portion of it as well,” Coakley said. “It’s much more inviting, the lighting is great and it’s just a million times better.”

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