Known as the South Beach — a 6.3-acre sandy area leading from parking lots to Lake Michigan between two piers at the Waukegan Municipal Beach — it easily accommodates hundreds of beachgoers on a warm summer day.
North of South Beach is a mile-long strip of sand along the lake separated from a parking lot by the Waukegan Dunes, an ecosystem of plants and other wildlife whose roots take hold in sand that is known as the North Beach.
Not nearly as accessible to people as the South Beach, Lisa May, the city’s lakefront coordinator, said plans are underway to make it much easier for people to explore the dunes and use the North Beach while preserving the delicate ecosystem.
“We are enhancing the trails in the dunes to improve access from the North Beach parking lot to the North Beach,” she said. “The dunes are foliage growing from the sand. We’re putting in marked trails to protect the ecosystem.”
May, other city officials and a consultant unveiled plans to make the North Beach significantly more accessible during an open house on Wednesday in a parking lot by the North Beach, answering questions for members of the public.
If funding is secured through a variety of potential grants or other sources, May said work on the $1.5 million project could start as early as the fall of next year and be ready for public use by the time the 2027 beach season begins.
Mayor Sam Cunningham, who was talking to members of the public during the open house, said enhancing the beach is another project in line with his goal of rebuilding Waukegan. It will enrich residents and draw people from other areas.
“This will make the beach more inclusive,” he said. “It’s an example of what people like about living in our community.”
A large viewing platform capable of accommodating a significant number of people is a highlight of the project. May said it will give individuals an opportunity to get a good look at the dunes and other parts of the ecosystem. People will be able to learn more about the area.
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“It’s like an outdoor classroom,” she said. “It will be a place for educating about nature. People will be able to learn more about protecting the Earth and protecting nature. This is a highlight of the project.”
Some of the trails will be made of wood or wood-like substances and elevated above the sand. May said such pathways through the area protect the habitat and make it easier for people to walk through the area, especially if they have mobility challenges.
With two types of trails existing through the dunes, May said the goal is to eliminate “unofficial” trails.
“Boardwalks are planned over the wetlands,” she said. “We plan to make the Sandpiper Trail fully accessible. The goal is to make it fully accessible for people, and (safe for) the natural inhabitants like the turtles and the piping plovers.”
Eli Moe is a piping plover monitor with the Lake County Audubon Society. He said he likes the idea of enhancing the North Beach. It is an area where the birds come from places like Florida and North Carolina to mate.
“We want to see a place where the birds will be healthy and happy,” he said. “They are part of this ecosystem.”
Marilynn Moisio said she likes the proposed plans to enhance the North Beach. A longtime Waukegan resident, she remembers a time nearly 40 years ago when a man with a bulldozer was ready to use his equipment on the dunes. She and her friends intervened, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers prevented any bulldozing.
“This is like a dream come true,” Moisio said, “We had no idea when we did that all this was going to happen. This will give local people an opportunity to see what the dunes are all about. The trails will give more people a chance to see what nature is.”