Newly replenished Lloyd Beach reopens

After a year of closure Lloyd Beach and boat is set to reopen to the public later this month with a new breakwater system, a new boardwalk, restored bluffs and a replenished beach, Winnetka Park District informs.

Winnetka Park District

After being battered by historically high lake levels in 2019 and remaining closed for the entire 2020 season, the beach is set to reopen to the public for Memorial Day weekend, according to Patch.

The cost of the $5.1 million project was covered with a mix of revenues, reserves and alternative revenue bonds, said Kelsey Raftery, the park district’s marketing and brand manager.

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A new three-part breakwater system protected the beach throughout the winter after contractors brought in more than 8,000 tons of sand to replenish it last year.

The project’s bluff restoration elements included removing invasive vegetation, planting new native vegetation and carrying out controlled burns, according to Raftery.

Winnetka Park District officials are planning a grand re-opening event next week at the beach.