Plans Progress for Rosewood Beach

Final touches were put on a 24-page document Monday by the Park District of Highland Park’s Beach Task Force, giving three architects guidance to develop proposals for a structure at . 

The new structure, along with a proposal from the Army Corps of Engineers to enlarge the beach itself in an ecologically-friendly manner, will means Highland Park may have a beach to rival Lake Forest to the north and Glencoe to the south. 

“I want it to be better in every way,” said.

The three architects—David Woodhouse Architects, LLC, Williams Architects and Farr Associates—were given direction in the document to design a structure based on the wishes of the Task Force. 

“It should include more year round activity at the beach, maintain the park that is there now, have bicycle access and comply with the museum grant,” said. 

The Park District has grants in the amount of $850,000 to offset the cost of the project. Part of the money was obtained as a museum grant through the for a room to enhance environmental education. 

“It’s for lakefront education and an interpretive room,” Fairman said. “Specifically it’s for environmental education and interpretation and increased recreational opportunities.” 

A smaller structure

Not everyone is happy with the architectural guidelines. Eve Tarm, a Task Force member and vice president of the Ravinia Neighbors’ Association, would rather see a small structure geared only to beach goers.

“It should only have bathrooms, a shower area and a first aid station for the lifeguards,” Tarm said. “An interpretative room does not belong there.” 

The architects will return for a Task Force meeting tentatively scheduled Sept. 19. At that time they will pose any questions they may have to the Task Force. Fairman expects a give and take to enable three quality proposals to emerge. 

The architects will then submit their proposals to be reviewed at a public hearing where the entire community can give input. Park District Executive Director expects the meeting to occur in late autumn. 

An ongoing process

For several years the Park District has been weighing proposals for its beachfront properties with strong community input throughout. The commissioners were getting ready to authorize a new structure a year ago when the existing structure was demolished.

Things changed, according to McElory. A large scale project was set for referendum in 2008 but pulled off the ballot by the Park Board when the economy began its downward spiral. The commissioners went back to work on a proposal for a 3,500 square foot structure at Rosewood.

The effort was postponed a year ago. Tarm said the Ravinia Neighbors Association stopped the process. McElroy says other things caused the board to retrench.

“The (Highland Park) Design Review Commission did not sign off and the Army Corps of Engineers happened,” McElory said.

Not long after the Design Review Commission rejected the building proposal, three park board members  arose. A decision was made to let the new board handle the beach issue. That group took office in May and got to work quickly. 

Army Corps fights beach erosion

The Army Corps of Engineers developed a proposal as a prototype to prevent beach erosion. Highland Park had the opportunity to help pioneer the effort. 

“It will make the beach larger,” McElory said. “They (the Army Corps of Engineers) will pay 65 percent.” 

The Park District will pay 35 percent. 

Tarm thinks the new proposal is no different than the original. 

“The difficulty has been the Park District has decided to stick to the same program they wanted to build last year,” she said. “The Park District wants a 1000 square foot interpretative room.” 

Weisskopf, who was elected to her post in March, campaigned for nothing more than bathrooms at the Rosewood project. Since joining the Task Force, however, she's decided to keep an open mind.

“I feel it (the Task Force) is being run so fairly,” Weisskopf said. “I have seen how the process is working and I am open to the process and all options.”