History

The Evanston Ecology Center was dedicated on Arbor Day, 1974 as a facility where environmental classes could be conducted for the people of Evanston.  

Then in 1976, the Evanston Environmental Association was established as a non-profit  organization that would support the Ecology Center's environmental programs that were offered at the Center, Ladd Arboretum and Lighthouse Nature Center.  

Later in that same year, the EEA completed a demonstration project at the Ecology Center that educated visitors on energy efficiency and alternative energy.  Also in that year, the EEA commissioned a land use master plan and undertook significant improvements to the facilities at the lighthouse complex and arboretum through grants and donations.

In 1980, the city of Evanston and the EEA in partnership with the Junior League completed another lighthouse improvement project.

In 1982, the EEA helped facilitate the creation of a solar greenhouse at the Ecology Center, and in that same year Alternative Energy programs were begun at the Ecology Center.

Completion of the Dr. Margery Carlson Greenhouse, a project of the EEA, the Garden Club of Evanston, and the Highland Garden Club, occurred in 1986.

By 1990, Ecology Center programs had continued to grow, but due to reduced funding, the classes, tours, and programs offered by the Ecology center at the Lighthouse were eliminated.  Environmental programs however did continue in the North and South fog houses, as well as in the Carlson greenhouse.

In the late 1990's, faced with increased interest in classes and programs and having nowhere to hold them, the EEA started developing plans for a major addition to the Ecology Center.  Ultimately, the $850,000 project was dedicated in 2004 with over $150,000 from State of Illinois grants, with the remaining $700,000 raised through private donations to the EEA from over 700 donors.  The building was given as a gift to the City of Evanston.

In 2007, the EEA in partnership with the City of Evanston, held the first Evanston Green Living Festival at the Ecology Center.  The Green Living Festival is now an annual event that has grown in popularity every year since its inception.

In 2010, the EEA, with the City of Evanston as a partner, added the "Ready, Set, Recycle!" electronics recycling event to the Evanston Green Living Festival.  This free recycling event will provide Evanston residents with an annual opportunity to recycle their no-longer-needed electronics for years to come. 

Today, the EEA and the Ecology Center continue as partners on numerous initiatives to ensure that the Center continues to provide outstanding green educational programs to the Evanston community.