Evanston Beaches To Open this Weekend Through Labor Day

EVANSTON, IL — Evanston's public swimming beaches are set to open for the season on Saturday and remain open through Labor Day.

Evanston residents are able to get free season beach passes for their households with proof of residency in ZIP codes 60201 or 60202.

Beach passes will be available during regular office hours at the Robert Crown Community Center, Levy Senior Center, Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center, Chandler-Newberger Community Center, Evanston Ecology Center and Prieto Community Center. All beach patrons must present either a season beach pass or a daily ticket to enter, and IDs will not be accepted at beach entrances.

Non-Evanston residents must buy a season pass or daily beach ticket to use Evanston's swimming beaches. The city said families living outside Evanston who have students enrolled in District 65 or Evanston Township High School are eligible for free beach passes. Daily tickets will cost $10 for Skokie residents and $12 for non-Skokie residents. Proof of Skokie residency in ZIP codes 60203, 60076 or 60077 is required for discounted Skokie rates.

Season beach passes may be purchased at the community centers where passes are distributed or at the Dempster Street Beach office beginning Saturday, May 9, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Daily admission may be purchased at the beach entrance through a gate attendant, and physical daily tickets will also be sold at the Dempster Street and Clark Street beach offices during the season.

The city also announced that watercraft rentals, including sailboats, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, will begin Monday, June 1. Lakefront safety measures will again include swim warning flags, free life jackets at all swimming beaches and life rings along the lakefront and boat launches. The city said "No Throw Zones" will continue at all swimming beaches, marked by signs and blue accessible mobi-mats.