Winnetka Residents Visualize Lakefront's Future

Ideas like the addition of a zip line, marina and a restaurant on the lakefront are just some of the possibilities Winnetka residents have shared as the input portion of the Winnetka Park District’s ‘Winnetka Waterfront 2030’ master plan takes shape.

Officials from the park and The Lakota Group, a local urban design firm signed on to assist the process, presented some of the concepts mentioned by 70 or so stakeholders (village staff, lakefront property owners, elected officials, etc.) during the long-term plan’s outreach stage at the first public workshop on Thursday.

Making a point to reach out to the community is most essential at this point, said Scott Freres, Principal of The Lakota Group.

“This is a long-term plan where we are now trying to identify strategies and solutions,” said Freres “The waterfront is a huge resource for our community and we have an interesting necklace of open space that surrounds the village.”

Common suggestions from the stakeholders already contacted included providing more boat storage space, connecting Tower and Lloyd parks and adding more food options, which Freres said was mentioned by every demographic in the study so far.

“It seems like a lot of positive brainstorming about the big picture and community-based changes,” said Winnetka resident Katie Hurley, one of 20 or so on hand to view the large maps of the area and offer suggestions. “I like the idea of being able to walk down the beach. Now it’s too divided with a lot of private property.”

Hurley was also intrigued by Freres’ mention of a potential educational component with New Trier High School being offered by the lakefront.
The area needs “some sprucing up,” according to Tristan Jenista, a Wilmette resident who made the trip for the session.

“I’d like to see more amenities and the lakefront could definitely use some more functionality, but not at the expense of natural resources,” he said. “There needs to be a symbiotic relationship so we can enjoy both.”

Now past the analyzing stage but still seeking input from the public and several hundred more stakeholders, the goal, Freres said, is to “roll out a plan” by the middle of the summer and to be able to bring something substantial to the park board in the fall.