North Lakeshore Beaches Private? (Chicago, Waukegan: fences, law, club)

[diskmaster23]

I was wondering if the beaches along the lake in the north burbs like in Winnetka or Highland Park were all private except for the park areas?

The reason I ask is, I am part of a running club and we wanted to do a guided run out in those areas and end up on the beach, but we were wondering if there would be issues with it finishing on the beach where it might be considered private beach?

Thanks in advance.

[edsg25]

Glencoe is hardly a clone of Highland Park in this regard.

[Anthera]

Unless the beach is part of a public park you would be trespassing in someone's backyard. The local police have very good response times. I would not advise ending your run in someone's private property.

[nana053]

Originally Posted by Anthera

Unless the beach is part of a public park you would be trespassing in someone's backyard. The local police have very good response times. I would not advise ending your run in someone's private property.

The suburban beaches are NOT private. They are owned by the various suburbs. They do charge a fee which goes to keeping the beaches clean and pay lifeguards. The fee is lower for residents than for non-residents.

https://cityofevanston.org/parks-rec...season-tokens/

Wilmette Beaches | Wilmette Park District

Village of Kenilworth

Beaches | General Info | Winnetka Park District

Lakefront & Beach Activities - Parks and Recreation | City of Lake Forest

Waukegan, IL - Official Website - Municipal Beach

The beaches in Chicago are private until you get past Loyola to Thorndale, I think

[Paige65]

I think there is some confusion here. Yes, the majority of the lakefront is privately owned except for the parts owned by one of the city/village/towns. These pubic areas are well identified and may be used by residents for free or a fee, and by non-residents for a fee. If the beach is not identified with signage as part of a town's park system or for public use, the beachfront is private and you would be trespassing.

[Larry Siegel]

Wilmette's beach from the pier at the south end of Gillson Park to the northern edge of Langdon Park about a mile farther north is public. There are fences at the pay beach, but these are only guarded during the summer and during the day. When the fences are unguarded, you can run on the sand for the whole mile. Drive in at the Gillson Park entrance between Linden and Central and park in the public (not Wilmette resident) parking area.

Caution: there is almost no hard pack sand. It's a tough run.

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by nana053

The suburban beaches are NOT private. They are owned by the various suburbs. They do charge a fee which goes to keeping the beaches clean and pay lifeguards. The fee is lower for residents than for non-residents.

https://cityofevanston.org/parks-rec...season-tokens/

Wilmette Beaches | Wilmette Park District

Village of Kenilworth

Beaches | General Info | Winnetka Park District

Lakefront & Beach Activities - Parks and Recreation | City of Lake Forest

Waukegan, IL - Official Website - Municipal Beach

The beaches in Chicago are private until you get past Loyola to Thorndale, I think

The OP was asking about the beaches on the North Shore that are NOT part of public parks. These beaches are totally private.

"Distinction Between Public and Private Beaches

Public beaches along the Illinois coast are owned by government agencies. In contrast, private beaches along the Illinois coast are owned by riparian owners. Riparian ownership along the Illinois coast occurs predominantly in the North Shore communities (Lake Bluff to Evanston) and also occurs at a few localities along Chicago’s far North Side and far South Side lakeshore.

According to Illinois Supreme Court case law (Brundage v. Knox, 1917), along the sections of Illinois coast having riparian ownership, the boundary between public and private ownership is the still-water shoreline. Above (i.e., landward of) the still-water shoreline is private; below (i.e., lakeward of) the stillwater shoreline is public. As the lake level fluctuates and the still-water shoreline shifts landward or lakeward, the boundary line shifts accordingly. The submerged part of the beach—the sandy lake bottom lakeward from the still-water shoreline—always remains in public ownership "

State of the Beach/State Reports/IL/Beach Access - Beachapedia

[Omoikane]

You would have to run over rocks, as many of the private beaches have rocks along the property lines! There is limited public access to the lake outside of the parks and beaches, like the Spruce Street access point in Winnetka. Those access points are primarily for emergency access to the water.

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by Omoikane

You would have to run over rocks, as many of the private beaches have rocks along the property lines! There is limited public access to the lake outside of the parks and beaches, like the Spruce Street access point in Winnetka. Those access points are primarily for emergency access to the water.

"Boulders" might be a better description than "rocks". Some of them are huge.