Downtown Evanston
Evmark d/b/a/ Downtown Evanston is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit corporation that provides marketing, special event, placemaking, and management services to the downtown Evanston business district. The overall mission of the organization is to market, maintain, develop, and improve the vitality of the local economy and quality of life within the designated Special Service Area (SSA) boundaries. Established in 1987, Downtown Evanston is governed by a Board of Directors and works in partnership with local property owners, business operators, residents and visitors, the City of Evanston, and other community organizations and stakeholders.

SERVICES
  • Physical maintenance is a key responsibility including landscaping maintenance and seasonal plantings in large planters throughout downtown.
  • Placemaking initiatives include holiday lighting and decor on streetlights, festive decorations at Fountain Square, district-wide banner program, and outdoor seating, big games and public art throughout downtown. 
  • Downtown Evanston coordinates and promotes special events including Thursday Night Market, Downtown Summer Sounds, S'mores on the Square, Holiday Light Celebration, and more!
  • Marketing initiatives including paid regional advertising, biweekly e-newsletters, and targeted social media campaigns. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for daily updates.
  • Support the City of Evanston economic development team with business attraction and retention efforts.

If a business, organization or other entity is interested in hosting an event at Fountain Square, or one that would require street closures, please reach out to the City of Evanston Parks & Recreation to apply for a special event permit. Click here to learn more about the process.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Before colonization and settlement by people of European descent, the place we know as Evanston was home to the Potawatomi, Odawa (Ottawa) and Ojibwe Tribes, also known as the Niswi-mishkodewinan (Council of the Three Fires), an alliance of Anishinaabeg peoples. It also served as an important crossroads and meeting place for a number of other Indigenous tribal nations, including the Ho-Chunk, Illinois, Inoka, Kickapoo, Miami, Menominee, Peoria, and Sac and Fox Nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of this land, as well as the Indigenous people that still call this area home, and support their continued work for justice, self-determination, and sovereignty. Courtesy of the Evanston Public Library.


2023 Annual Report 2022 Annual Report 2021 Annual Report 2020 Annual Report 2019 Annual Report 2022 Audit 2021 Audit 2020 Audit 2019 Audit 2018Audit 2017 Audit Strategic Plan
Welcome! Please use the link above to sign-up for our periodic e-newsletter. To contact us, email info@DowntownEvanston.org.

Be sure to check out the City's new website, EnjoyEvanston.com!