Swanson Foundation Renovates South Evanston Park

Volunteers and local leaders completed a full overhaul of Clyde-Brummel Park to better serve area children.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Philanthropy

Swanson Foundation Renovates South Evanston Park

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Volunteers joined the Purpose & Calling Foundation to renovate Clyde-Brummel Park in South Evanston. The project aims to address the site's previous failure to meet community needs.

Why it matters

The City of Evanston identified that the park's service area has a high density of children but lacked adequate facilities. This collaboration between the foundation and the city provides necessary infrastructure to support local families.

The Purpose & Calling Foundation provided a $200,000 donation to fund the renovation of Clyde-Brummel Park. This project serves the 8th Ward of Evanston.

The players

Mallory and Dansby Swanson

They are the founders of the Purpose & Calling Foundation which spearheaded the park refurbishment.

Audrey Thompson

She serves as the director of parks and recreation for the City of Evanston.

Matt Rodgers

He is the 8th Ward alder for Evanston who participated in the local project coordination.

The details

Volunteers worked on Thursday to complete the site preparation, install concrete, and assemble new playground equipment. The project was organized over several months through a partnership involving the City of Evanston, the foundation, and KaBOOM!.

Volunteers performed the park renovation build out on October 29, 2026.

Market Landscape

This project aligns with the City of Evanston's public recreation service area standards for improving municipal infrastructure. It represents a shift toward private-public partnerships to bridge the gap in facility maintenance and community service needs.

Residents of South Evanston now have access to newly installed playground equipment at Clyde-Brummel Park. The completed site provides improved recreational facilities for local families and children residing in the area.

The takeaway

Community-led park renovations can effectively address infrastructure gaps where municipal resources are stretched thin. Residents can monitor local parks and recreation department notices to identify future volunteer and improvement opportunities.