Glencoe Beach is shut down for construction. The lakefront won't reopen until May 2027.

Work began Tuesday, Sept. 8, on a renovation that will reshape the village's signature stretch of Lake Michigan shoreline, the Glencoe Park District announced. Families who use the beach playground, residents who store boats at the facility and anyone who visits the beach house will lose access for roughly eight months.

The project covers six major upgrades: beach house interior renovations, a new playground with spray features, a new trellis and sun shelters, new boat storage, boardwalk improvements and infrastructure upgrades. The park district had been planning the work since at least April, when it first announced the Sept. 8 start date and the full scope of changes.

What's closed

The lower ramp, beach, beach house and playground are all off-limits to visitors for the duration of construction. The swimming beach is closed entirely for safety reasons, the park district said.

Pedestrian access to the upper road remains open for walkers and runners outside construction hours. The Village of Glencoe confirmed the closure in a separate notice and urged visitors to follow posted signage, respect protective fencing and use caution around increased construction vehicle traffic.

Timeline

The beach's 2026 regular season ran from June 6 through Aug. 16, with a post-season that ended Monday, Sept. 7. Crews moved in the following day.

The park district said in its announcement that it looks forward to welcoming the community back when the project wraps up in May 2027. No specific reopening date has been set, and no project cost has been publicly disclosed.

Lakefront parking under review

The construction comes as the village also examines how the lakefront handles traffic. The Glencoe Village Board unanimously approved nine residents to a Lakefront Parking Task Force on Aug. 19, according to The Record North Shore. That group's first meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 16, at the Takiff Center. The task force is set to hold meetings through December.

How parking is managed around the beach could take on added importance once the renovated facility reopens with new amenities like the spray-feature playground.

Residents can check for construction updates at the Glencoe Park District's website.