Kenilworth Beach is closed all day Thursday, Aug. 13, as crews remove remaining heavy equipment and materials associated with the village's Beach Improvement Project.
The Village of Kenilworth posted the closure notice Wednesday, Aug. 12, saying the one-day closure is needed to remove "remaining heavy equipment and materials" from the project. The work comes as the village moves toward completing Phase Two of the beach improvements, which began in fall 2025.
Village Manager Katarzyna Thake has described the beach improvements as a major, long-term investment in the community. Phase One began in October 2024 with shoreline restoration. Phase Two, which began in fall 2025, includes a new bathroom facility, an ADA pedestrian ramp, native landscaping, relocated electrical utilities and improvements to the beach plaza and access areas.
The beach reopened to swimmers July 1 after construction during Phase Two. At the time of the reopening, portions of the project, including the street ramp, new beach plaza and Devonshire Lane entry, remained under construction and were expected to be completed by the end of summer.
Ahead of the July 1 reopening, Thake told The Record North Shore the finished beach would be "something that's a gem for the community."
The village has not announced a specific reopening time following Thursday's closure. Residents can check the Village of Kenilworth Alert Center for updates or call Village Hall at 847-251-1666.
North Shore Beach Schedule
- Thursday, Aug. 13: Kenilworth Beach closed all day for removal of remaining heavy equipment and materials.
- Sunday, Aug. 16: Last day of Glencoe Beach's regular season, with beach hours from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Monday, Aug. 17: Glencoe Beach enters its postseason schedule, with lifeguards on duty weekends only.
- Monday, Aug. 17: Wilmette's Langdon Beach loses lifeguard coverage for the remainder of the season. South Beach's Gate 4 entrance also closes for the rest of the season.
- Monday, Aug. 24: Wilmette's Main Beach and South Beach switch to weekday swim-at-your-own-risk conditions, with lifeguards on weekends from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Monday, Sept. 7: Final day of the beach season at both Wilmette and Glencoe. Wilmette's Main and South beaches will have lifeguards from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Tuesday, Sept. 8: Glencoe Beach closes for a major renovation involving the playground, sun shelters, trellis, beach house, boardwalk, boat storage and other improvements. Construction is expected to continue through May 2027.
