Vandalism at The Evans at Canal Shores
Overnight on Friday, vandals using recreational vehicles significantly damaged the recently renovated facilities at The Evans at Canal Shores, a nonprofit golf course that stretches across Wilmette and Evanston.
Leaders of Canal Shores are collaborating with the police departments of both Evanston and Wilmette regarding the incident, which left several greens and fairways requiring repairs. According to Wilmette Cmdr. Alexander Mercado, the damage appeared to be consistent with performing “donuts” on the putting greens.
A resident alerted Wilmette police at 3:10 a.m. on Saturday, August 16, about two ATVs spotted on the golf course. However, police were unable to locate the vehicles at that time. Later, at 7 a.m., Evanston police arrived at the scene, noting extensive damage, including track marks and a broken wheel along with plexiglass remnants.
Chris Charnas, vice president of Canal Shores’ board, reported that volunteers discovered the damage early Saturday morning and shared their findings, including photographs, with both the police and Canal Shores’ management. He expressed disbelief and sadness at the vandalism, questioning the motive behind such destructive actions against a cherished community asset.
The most severe damage was observed on the greens of Holes 11 and 13. Charnas indicated that deep tire tracks had marred the sod, with significant skid marks found on the fairways located at the north end of the course in Wilmette. Early investigations revealed that both vehicles involved in the vandalism were golf carts stolen from Northwestern University’s Foster-Walker Complex.
One of the carts, missing a wheel, was discovered around 5 a.m. near Isabella Street and Garrison, while the second was located in Evanston at around 7 a.m. As a result of the damages, The Evans at Canal Shores had to close on Saturday but reopened the following day with restrictions.
Although it is still early to provide details regarding restoration efforts, Charnas mentioned the challenges ahead, both in terms of potential costs and time. He emphasized the need to assess whether repairs could be conducted in-house or if professional intervention would be required to restore the sod in affected areas.
Once known as Peter Jans Golf Course, The Evans at Canal Shores has been serving the community for over a century and recently underwent a $6 million renovation in 2023-2024. The course is a nonprofit managed by the Evanston Wilmette Golf Course Association and is designed to accommodate a variety of community uses.
