Evanston, an eclectic city bordering the north side of Chicago, provides an extensive range of sports and leisure opportunities for an extremely diverse population. Evanston is densely populated. Two-thirds of the approximately 73,000 residents live in apartments or condominiums. Evanston has a large number of students. It is home to Northwestern University, National-Louis University and Kendall College.
Some neighborhoods are quite wealthy.
Many upper-middle income families live in other large sections of the city. However, Evanston's median income is considerably lower than that of its neighboring suburbs because 41 percent of its residents are in the low or moderate income categories. The Recreation Department has always offered some form of fee subsidy, but formalized the process in the early 1980s when the Evanston Recreation Board instituted a fee assistance policy. The Board, which is comprised of citizens appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the City Council, sets the standards of service offered to the public. Although the Board's policy encouraged eligible residents to apply for scholarships, over the years staff realized that the related procedures may have discouraged some participation.