Bank Announces Donation To Crown Center Rebuild

EVANSTON, IL — There's no final price tag or design for the project, but the campaign to rebuild the community center at 1701 Main Street has already raised more than $7 million. Northwestern University has pledged $1 million to the campaign, and last week Wintrust Bank became the latest organization to announce its support for the new library, community center and park at Evanston's largest community center.

The bank will contribute $500,000 over the course of several years. It will receive a "prominent naming opportunity within the new community center building or the exterior park," which will be determined after architects complete a preliminary design, the public-private fundraising initiative Friends of the Robert Crown Center announced Thursday.

“We couldn’t be more grateful for Wintrust’s incredible generosity, vision, and leadership,” said Daniel Stein, Board President of the fundraising campaign. “With this gift, they have declared for all to see how committed they are to Evanston’s families and institutions. We look forward to partnering with Wintrust to strengthen our community for years to come.”

The center was built in 1974 and offers venues for hockey, figure skating, soccer, football, dancing, summer camps and more programs for the community, but the facilities are suffering from a number of technical issues and no longer meet the needs of the community, according to the city.

Evanston's city government and public library have available bond financing of $10 million and $2.5 million respectively, leaving $17.5 million to be raised through private donations, sponsorships, and institutional program partnerships, according to the Friends of the Robert Crown Center.

A neighborhood meeting held last Tuesday attracted more than 100 people to discuss ideas for the redesign, with more to be held in the future. A conceptual design could be finished in the summer with construction starting next spring, Pioneer Press reported.

Top photo: Conceptual Rendering via Friends Of Robert Crown Center

» Video from the Friends of the Robert Crown Center explains fundraising campaign: