Chicago's 2024 Beach Season Starts May 24

New Lifeguard Explorers Training Program yields positive results

Celebrating 10th anniversary of partnership with UIC School of Public Health to test water quality

Daily beach advisories available at chicagoparkdistrict.com/beaches starting May 24 at 11 a.m.

The Chicago Park District is excited to announce the City's 22 beaches will open this Friday, May 24th for the 2024 season. The 2024 beach season runs through Labor Day, Monday, September 2, 2024.

"Beach season is upon us, and we are ready! The Chicago Park District is proud to welcome visitors to Chicago's 22 pristine beaches and 26-miles of lakefront, including Oak Street Beach, which was recently named one of the best beaches in the country," said Chicago Park District General Superintendent and CEO, Rosa Escareño. "This is what we have been waiting for since our summer jobs campaign launched in winter; earlier than ever. We are proud of many achievements this year, including the success of our new Lifeguard Explorers Training Program, a stipend-based swim class that reenergized the pipelines disrupted by the pandemic and has been instrumental in teaching more youth to swim this year and preparing them for a respected career choice. We're also celebrating a decade of our water quality testing partnership with UIC's School of Public Health, an effort that has increased public safety and provided real-world research opportunities for our local university students."

"UIC's decade-long partnership with the Chicago Park District has been instrumental in providing our students with invaluable hands-on experience," Research Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health, Dr. Abhilasha Shrestha. "The successful application of qPCR testing methods in monitoring microbial beach water quality exemplifies how scientific research can directly contribute to the health and wellbeing of our community. We are proud to be part of this successful endeavor."

WATER QUALITY

This is the 10th year that the Park District is partnering with the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health to use the USEPA's rapid test method at all beaches. Water quality testing is important to public safety, and the partnership with UIC enables the Park District to make testing results available for public awareness in an expedited manner.

The speedy testing method uses DNA detection of Enterococci instead of culturing live E. coli bacteria cells, and cuts the time required for test results from 18 to 24 hours to only 3 to 4 hours.

During the beach season, this process ensures quality conditions for residents and visitors who frequent the beaches and lakefront. Keeping beaches clean also helps to prevent water quality swim advisories.

Beaches will be sampled seven days a week and information will be reported to the public via Chicago Park District website and a color-coded flag system at the beaches.

The Park District cleans beaches on a daily basis, starting before dawn. There are tractors pulling beach raking machines that clean the beaches every day with support from crews of laborers that hand-pick litter and empty trash cans in the summer. Beach sweepers clear paths for pedestrians and bike trail users. Patrons can help the Park District maintain our beaches free of waste by placing all garbage and recycling in their appropriate containers.

LIFEGUARD TRAINING

The Park District's "Your Perfect Summer Job" campaign efforts, which kicked off in December 2023, have been successful in inspiring nearly 2,000 candidates to step-up and apply to be lifeguards this summer. In conjunction with the launch of the recruitment campaign, the Park District unveiled a new Lifeguard Explorers Training Program. The stipend-based program has graduated nearly 200 participants that have learned to swim and are prepared to meet the test requirements to become a future lifeguard. The graduates, between the ages of 15 to 22 years old, could apply for the lifeguard position. The potential lifeguards received a $475 stipend for completing the course, which aided in restoring the lifeguard recruitment pipelines disrupted during the pandemic. The course, targeted to west and south side communities, provided Chicago residents additional opportunities to learn how-to swim.

In addition to the stipend-based course offered at four park locations during after-school hours to accommodate academic schedules, the Park District gave interested swimmers $400 to complete the required American Red Cross specialty certification, paid three-day safety operations trainings for new lifeguards, and increased hourly salary rate to $19.

We are still accepting applicants for the final swim test of the season on June 1st. For more information about the requirements to be a lifeguard and to register for the test, please visit https://bit.ly/ApplyNOW-Lifeguard.

As the summer beach season takes-off, the Park District will continue its recruitment efforts in anticipation of opening all pools on June 17th. Pool schedules for each park location will be posted on the Chicago Park District website prior to opening date.

BEACH SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS

Water Safety

As part of the Park District's ongoing water safety campaign to help families stay safe while enjoying the lakefront this summer, the Park District will kick off this year's Water Safety Trainings on May 29th at Chicago beaches.  Three trainings at three different beaches will be offered every Wednesday through June 26th at 6:00 p.m. For the complete water safety trainings schedule, please click here.

Security, Equipment & Resource Improvements

The safety of our park patrons and staff is paramount. As the Park District prepares for the opening of beaches at the end of the week and increased activity along the lakefront, we have various safeguards in place to ensure that our staff are trained and ready to prevent and respond to any issues that may arise.

The Park District Security deploys its designated lakefront beach mobile unit, made up of six prominently marked vehicles, to patrol the lakefront daily during beach hours of operations daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., starting Friday, May 24 through Labor Day, September 2. Security also works closely with the Chicago Police to address any issues and create a safe and enjoyable beach experience for visitors.

The Park District is one of the only aquatics corps to still use boats as an additional resource in our efforts to keep Chicago's beach visitors and swimmers safe. This year, the Park District has added 2 new power boats to add to its 100 strong fleet.

Newly refreshed, "Swim Only When Lifeguards are on Duty" and "No Diving" as well as "No Swimming" signage will be visible along the lakefront this summer. Red, yellow and green flags are ready to fly on poles at all swimming beaches to display the beach's current swim status. In addition, life preserver equipment is available in areas where swimming is not allowed, to further safeguard beach visitors.

Summer Lifeguard Trainings

In addition to being American Red Cross certified, all Chicago lifeguards have completed an extensive swim skills-test that includes a 200-yard swim test, a 20-yard underwater swim, and retrieval of a 10-pound object from a depth of 10-14 feet.

FLAG NOTIFICATION SYSTEM

The Chicago Park District will continue to utilize the flag notification system and interactive web page to display swim status, water quality, weather data, location information, amenities, directions and historical details about each of the 22 lakefront beach locations.

The following flag notification system tells patrons the current status of beaches:

• Green - Swimming is permitted. Weather conditions are fair and water quality is good.

• Yellow - Swimming is permitted, but caution is advised. Weather conditions are unpredictable or bacteria levels are higher than the water quality criteria set by EPA for notifying the public.

• Red - Swimming is not permitted. Weather conditions are dangerous or water quality conditions are dangerous.

Lifeguards will prominently post a red flag at the end of the night to remind patrons that swimming is no longer permitted. That flag will remain in place throughout the night until the start of the next lifeguard shift at 11 a.m.

ACCESSIBILITY

Beach walkways that are placed over sand allow individuals with wheelchairs, walkers, crutches and/or strollers to access our beach shoreline by traveling along a sturdy path. The International Symbol of Access (wheelchair icon) indicates accessible beaches.

The following locations have a beach wheelchair available for free use with a valid ID. Visit the lifeguard office at the beach houses to check one out.
• Osterman Beach
• Foster Beach
• Montrose Beach
• North Avenue Beach
• 31st St. Beach
• 63rd St. Beach
• South Shore Beach
• Rainbow Beach

CONCESSIONS & FACILITIES

More than 80 lakefront concessionaires will also return this year beginning Memorial Day weekend. The Chicago Park District is pleased to welcome back lakefront concessions for the 2024 season featuring a variety of both indoor and outdoor dining experiences, water recreational activities, and retail options. For a complete list of Park District approved concessioners, click here.  Chicago Park District approved vendors will be identified by a red permit seal.

In addition to beaches, other summer park facilities and opportunities are available. The Lakefront Trail remains open for pedestrian and recreational use. The Chicago Park District recently switched on the Buckingham Fountain, which will remain on through mid-October, and looks forward to summer programming, including junior lifeguards and day camp. Registration is underway. Visit chicagoparkdistrict.com to view and register for summer programs, which kicks off the week of June 26th.

GENERAL BEACH GUIDELINES

Patrons are asked to observe the following beach rules:

• Obey lifeguards and swim only when lifeguards are on duty in designated swim areas.
• Do not swim if the flag is red.
• Follow lifeguards' instructions.
• No glass, alcohol or smoking on the beach.
• Permits are required for gatherings of 50 or more people, use of amplified sound, and concessions/vendors. More information about permits is available at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/permits-rentals. 
• Properly dispose of food, diapers and other refuse. Do not feed birds.
• Dogs are only allowed in designated dog areas.
• Please put swim diapers on small children.
• Grilling is only allowed in designated areas and coals should be disposed in the red-hot metal containers. For more information, visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/grilling.
• Keep accessible beach walks clear. No bicycling, skateboarding or rollerblading is permitted in these areas.
• Access to the Lake Michigan Water Trail for sports such as kayaking, canoeing and other non-motorized board or paddle sports is allowed at 12th Street Beach. For more information, go to the rules page and download information on Lake Michigan water trails.
• Only Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices (PFDs) are permitted. Children wearing PFDs should have an adult with them in the water.
• Swimming is permitted and lifeguards are on duty at all beaches from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., unless otherwise posted.
• Only authorized vehicles are allowed on parkland or on the beach.

Beach goers can also access information on swim status by calling the Chicago Park District Beach Hotline at 312-74-BEACH, checking www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/beaches or following us on Facebook and X for the swim status at each beach.

Admission to Chicago's beaches is free. For a list of locations or for more information, visit the Park District website at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/beaches.