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Picnic Reservation Permits

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Parks Available for Picnic Reservations

Non-Lakefront Parks	Picnic Shelter?	Bathrooms?	Grill?
Ackerman Park	No	Yes	Yes
Baker Park	No	Yes	No
Butler Park	Yes	No	Yes
Harbert Park	Yes	No	Yes
James Park	No	Yes	No
Larimer Park	Yes	No	Yes
Leahy Park	No	Yes	Yes
Lovelace Park	Yes	Yes	Yes
Mason Park	No	Yes	Yes
Twiggs Park	Yes	No	No

Lakefront Parks	Picnic Shelter?	Bathrooms?	Grill?
Centennial Park	No	Yes	Yes
Dawes Park	No	Yes	Yes
Elliott Park	No	Yes	Yes
Garden Park	No	Yes	Yes
Lighthouse Picnic Shelter	Yes	Yes	No

Reservations are closed for the season and will reopen on March 1, 2025

All requests for Picnic Reservation Permits are made online
Reservation Permits reserve the picnic area for your use for a specific day and time.
Reservation Permits are required for events of 30 or more people.

Request a reservation online by choosing either Lakefront Parks or Non-Lakefront Parks Reservation Permits below:

Non-Lakefront Picnic Reservation Permits

Availability:	Reservations requests are available between March 1 -Nov 10th. Reservations are made in 2-hour time blocks from 9am-9pm. Time blocks start on odd hours of the day (9am, 11am, etc.). Reservation request are taken on a on a first come-first serve basis.
Fees:	Resident: $55 for every 2-hour time block. Non-Resident: $70 for every 2-hour time block. Cancellation Fee: $25
Capacity:	Maximum: 150 people 100 people or more requires a Certificate of Liability Insurance.
Online Application Process:	Submit an application online: Picnic Availability & Reservation Requests Click on "Submit a Request" to see a calendar of availability for the park. Follow through the prompts to submit your request You will receive a receipt that we have received your request. Please note, the receipt will not reflect the balance owed, and does not guarantee reservation date and time. Reservations are not confirmed until payment is made. A staff member will call you within two business days to let you know if your request is available and to take your payment. Please make sure your phone number on file is correct. *Picnic reservation permits are not reserved until payment is made.*
Additional Information:	Alcohol, inflatable play apparatus (bouncy houses), food trucks, loud speakers, tents larger than 10'x10', rental chairs and tables are not permitted. See also Additional rules and regulations. The permit applies only to the picnic area of the park, the rest of the park is open to the public. Questions? Email: parkpermit@cityofevanston.org

Lakefront Picnic Reservation Permits

Map of Lakefront Picnic Reservation Locations

Lakefront Picnic Reservation Requests

Availability:	Reservations are available between March 1st-Nov 10th. Reservations are made in 2-hour time blocks from 9am -9pm. Time blocks start on odd hours of the day (9am, 11am, etc.). Reservation request are taken on a on a first come-first serve basis.
Fees:	Resident: $55 for every 2-hour time block. Non-Resident: $70 for every 2-hour time block. Cancellation Fee: $25
Capacity:	Maximum: 99 people
Online Application Process:	Submit an application online: Picnic Availability & Reservation Requests Click on 'Submit a Request' to see a calendar of availability for the park. Follow through the prompts to submit your request. You will receive a receipt that we have received your request. Please note, the receipt will not reflect the balance owed, and does not guarantee reservation date and time. Reservations are not confirmed until payment is made. A staff member will call you within two business days to let you know if your request is available and to take your payment. Please make sure your phone number on file is correct. Picnic reservation permits are not reserved until payment is made.
Additional Information:	Alcohol, inflatable play apparatus (bouncy houses), food trucks, loud speakers, tents larger than 10'x10', rental chairs and tables are not permitted. Additional Rules and Regulations. The permit applies only to the picnic area of the park, the rest of the park is open to the public. Questions? Call the Beach Office at 847.866.4167.