A stay-at-home mother of three, Lindsey White smiled as she recalled her recent visit to the open house for Evanston’s South End Community Center. As her family wandered the halls of the newly renovated space, she said she envisioned all the fun her children could have there.
“It was really great,” White said. “I thought it would be a great revenue source for the city, and I was excited to see what kind of programming they would have.”
Among a long list of the center’s elements that she enjoyed, White said she was most excited that the facility would have a sensory room. Her son is neurodiverse and she said for those like him, sensory spaces can be “havens” when they feel overstimulated.
“He loved it in there,” White said. “We spent a full hour just exploring and relaxing. It was such a relief to see him comfortable and engaged.”
For White, and many others, these inclusive spaces weren’t just amenities — they were lifelines of understanding and support.
In January, the city purchased the 9th ward building which previously served a similar purpose as Little Beans Cafe, a privately owned business that stood as a gathering place for families and their children.
Now, five months after that purchase the South End Community Center is getting ready to open its doors to the public for the first time in mid-July. The center will welcome everyone but will particularly emphasize creating accessible spaces and serving disabled communities.
“We want all of our buildings to be accessible,” said Lauren Ruiz, inclusion and accessibility division manager for the City of Evanston. “I think the timing of when the building became available for purchase just worked for our needs.”
Based on community feedback gathered by QR codes, the center underwent significant upgrades since its days as Little Beans. The facility now has a freshly painted interior and new gym equipment for its soon-to-launch gymnastics programs.
Through those initial surveys, the community identified the importance of a sliding scale payment system. Many residents said they enjoyed visiting Little Beans Cafe but found it challenging to afford, particularly those with larger families. The city plans to implement a new system, offering 75 percent off for children receiving free school lunch and a 50 percent discount for those receiving reduced-price lunch.
Ald. Juan Geracaris (9th) said he was pleasantly surprised by the community’s strong turnout and engagement at the open house. He estimated that around 870 attendees participated and provided valuable feedback.
“I initially had planned to be there for one or two hours, and other than sneaking out to take a meeting in the afternoon, I was there all day,” he said.
Looking ahead, the center plans to introduce additional amenities such like a drive thru cafe and ecological classes. City officials hope the center will serve as a vital community hub where councilmembers will one day host ward meetings and early education classes will take place.
Longtime Evanston resident Michael Schram said he is excited to watch the new chapter of a familiar Southwest Evanston corner.
During his 53 years in Evanston, Schram, Dawes Elementary School in the mid-’50s and early-’60s, has seen the location transition from a grocery store to an Osco drug store and, most recently, to Little Beans Cafe. He said he looks forward to the site continuing to serve the community in its new role.
“To see the youth in this community, especially in the 9th ward, gathering now in the same way we did back then — it’s just exciting,” he said.
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