The transformation of Racine's North Beach, from polluted wasteland to award-winning playground, was recently featured by "Great Lakes Now," a program produced by Detroit Public Television.
The segment, which appeared during Great Lakes Week, Sept. 9-12, explains how area residents banded together to restore the beach. Theresa Klaus, a retired educator, tells how dirty and smelly the beach and Lake Michigan were in the 1960s. As a result, she and her family avoided the area for decades. Today, Klaus and her grandchildren regularly enjoy North Beach, which has held the Blue Wave Beach designation from the National Clean Beaches Council since 2004.
Dr. Julie Kinzelman, City of Racine Health Department research scientist, is interviewed about the cleanup and ongoing community involvement. "Taking care of this beach is everyone's responsibility," she says.
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Award-winning producer Ed Moore of Detroit Public Television, produced the North Beach segment.
To watch the video, go to "Great Lakes Week 2013 Features" at the center of the screen and scroll down to "Racine Beach."