In an unexpected twist, the state of Illinois has emerged as the owner of Lincoln Street beach, once the private lakefront domain of Northwestern University that opened to Evanston residents this year.
“Lincoln Street beach is not the property of Northwestern University. I cannot tell you whose property it is,” Evanston City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz said at a Sept. 17 City Council meeting.
But on Oct. 1, Bobkiewicz confirmed it likely belongs to the state.
“We’ve had some further discussion with (Illinois Department of Natural Resources) and they believe they” own it, Bobkiewicz said. “The state of Illinois.”
Northwestern officials were not immediately available for comment.
The unlikely turn comes as Evanston residents have been petitioning the university for access to the strip of beach which formed about 50 years ago, according to city reports, as Northwestern added landfill into Lake Michigan in 1962 to build the university.
Formerly known as Northwestern Beach, the strip of sand at the east end of Lincoln Street and north end of campus was created in the 1960s as sand began accumulating north of the added landfill, according to city reports. Access was restricted to university students and staff for the next 50-plus years.
But in 2015, as Northwestern began getting permits to build its new lakefront athletic complex, representatives from the city and the university agreed to share responsibility for the strip of sand, according to city reports. Northwestern agreed to staff and maintain the beach while the city would grade it.
In return, the beach would open to Evanston residents — with the use of beach tokens — or anyone else willing to pay the daily admission, which in 2018 was $8 for adults and $6 for kids 11 and younger, according to city reports.
Bobkiewicz said the change in ownership comes because the beach was created by man-made development as the water patterns adjusted to the landfill that created Northwestern University, and was not necessarily part of the university itself.
State officials were not immediately available for comment.
The beach sits in Ald. Eleanor Revelle’s 7th Ward. Revelle said she hopes the city can work with either Northwestern or the state to secure unlimited year-round access. Right now the beach is only open to Evanston residents from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Memorial Day to Labor Day.
“Last time I walked by, it’s all locked up. So it’s not like a regular Evanston beach where if it’s not beach season, you’ve got access for the public to walk on at any time,” Revelle said.
Still, she added, the new beach access is popular with the community.
“I’ve heard from residents who are happy to have that option and especially on the weekend, they can find parking there because they can use the Northwestern garage,” Revelle said. That’s “compared to Lighthouse Beach which parking is a real challenge.”
Bobkiewicz said he now plans to pursue talks with Northwestern and IDNR about securing greater access for Evanston residents on Lincoln Street Beach.
“The city needs to make a formal inquiry with IDNR stating what our desires might be. I need to draft a letter on behalf of the city saying we would like to have discussion,” Bobkiewicz said. “If Evanston wishes to have access and control over the property more so than the current arrangement, what is the next step to do that?”
Bobkiewicz said those answers will take time to receive, but a new arrangement could be in place by next summer.
gbookwalter@chicagotribune.com
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