Work begins on Kenilworth Beach, restricting public access until the spring

Kenilworth Beach is closed to the public until May as work continues on the shoreline protection portion of the Beach Improvement Project.

According to information from the Village, construction equipment and materials began to arrive Oct. 29 and work began Oct. 30. Shoreline protection work will likely continue through the end of the year, the Village says.

Traditionally, the public has had access to Kenilworth Beach in the winter months; however, access will not be permitted until May 24, according to the village. Additional security measures have been installed around the site, as well.

The Village also warned residents of an increase in truck traffic while the project is ongoing.

Trustees decided in April to go with the more basic and less expensive of two shoreline protection designs from consultant GZA Geoenvironmental. The one they chose, popularly known as the “I” design, would create a protective line or armor rocks extending straight out into the lake and would cost $992,893.

The entire water plan and beach modernization effort will cost approximately $8.4 million. In March, residents approved a $2.5 million bond issue that will cover a significant slice of that price tag. Additional funding for that is predicated on using about $3.3 million in existing fund balances, and on raising at least $2.5 million in donations, village officials have said.

The Record is a nonprofit, nonpartisan community newsroom that relies on reader support to fuel its independent local journalism.

Subscribe to The Record to fund responsible news coverage for your community.

Already a subscriber? You can make a tax-deductible donation at any time.