Evanston Parks and Recreation details Juneteenth setup at Dawes Park

Amanda D'Agostino, special events coordinator for the City of Evanston Parks and Recreation Department, said the department has been preparing since January for the Juneteenth celebration at Dawes Park’s Arrington Lagoon and is coordinating setup, staging and vendors.

D'Agostino framed the preparations as a community-connecting effort, saying Parks and Recreation staff handle extensive on-site work so residents and visitors can enjoy the event.

"We are working on setting up the Juneteenth [music] celebration here at Dawes Park at Arrington Lagoon," D'Agostino said, describing site tasks such as placing tables, tents and chairs and installing audio and staging equipment. She said the department also recruits vendors and community organizations to participate and connect with attendees.

D'Agostino said the event preparation begins months ahead: "All of this preparation starts in January." She described staff schedules on event day, saying, "here we are on site from [music] 8:00 a.m. to about 5:30 p.m. even though the event is only from 12:00 to 4:00," to allow time for setup and teardown.

She highlighted the department's mission and local impact, noting that special events bring together children, families and Northwestern students and allow residents to experience Evanston’s parks and Lake Michigan shoreline. "I'm excited to come to work every day to work in Parks and Recreation," D'Agostino said, adding that seeing community members having fun reflects the organization's goals.

The remarks in the transcript are an informational staff overview of event logistics and planning; no formal actions or votes were recorded.