| Sweat the Small Stuff: Creating Unconventional Third Places Through Public-Private Partnerships Speaker Description CREDITS: 1.75 CM ABSTRACT When it comes to building community, the City of Evanston sweats the small stuff. In this case, literally. Over the past four years, Evanston has become a haven for sauna culture, in large part due to the City’s creative response to a new market. Sauna Club, a weekly lakeside sauna pop-up that rents out sauna sessions, opened in 2022. Founder Ryan Cohler has credited its popularity to the warmth it creates, but not only in a physical sense. The sauna serves as an unconventional third place where people can gather, meet others, and share a unique experience. The sauna’s popularity flourished, but after receiving community concerns about its use of lakefront space, the City saw an opportunity. Rather than shutting the business down, the City embraced the opportunity to find a new location. Navigating permitting logistics and cross-departmental collaboration, the City established a permanent home for Sauna Club, activating underused lakefront space in the process. Join the City of Evanston, Sauna Club founder Ryan Cohler, and planner and Sauna Club enthusiast Fiona Kennedy, AICP for a panel discussion on activating third places through public-private partnerships. A lakeside panel discussion and Q&A will be followed by an optional sauna session. Water-friendly clothing, like a swimsuit, is recommended if you plan to participate in the sauna. Restrooms will be available for changing. LEARNING OBJECTIVES
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