What is Unfence Gillson?
Unfence Gillson is an association of Wilmette residents and non-residents who object to the new fence and fees imposed along the upper edge of Gillson Park’s South Beach on May 12, 2024. This change comes after 100 years of the South Beach being open, clear, and free. Additionally, we oppose the new Wilmette Park District policies that restrict the beach’s use during the summer.
These include entry fees per person for all ages, even infants and seniors: $5 for Wilmette residents and $10 for non-residents. And there are no provisions for people who cannot afford admission, they are simply turned away. Unfence Gillson believes that the fence and fees should be removed immediately.
Why are Gillson Park and South Beach important?
Wilmette’s Gillson Park, a 60-acre park located adjunct Lake Michigan, is among the North Shore’s oldest, largest and most beautiful such spaces. Its importance was recently reinforced by its inclusion on the National Register for Historic Places. Running along its eastern edge and connecting to Langdon Park to the north are three beaches, including South Beach. Unlike most other beaches on the North Shore, South Beach has traditionally been free to the public – a beacon of openness and inclusivity and a point of pride for Wilmette residents who believe in those values.
What is wrong with a fence on South Beach?
This new slatted wood fence, which runs along the upper edge of South Beach, scars the natural beauty, inhibits wildlife and blocks the view of the beach for elderly, people with disabilities, or others who like to sit on nearby benches and look out over water. In addition, the fence and the new admission fees that accompany it place an unnecessary financial burden on people, many of whom are unable to afford it, blocks easy access for residents and prohibits people with dogs from walking on the beach at all. Staff informed the board in a March 15 memo that the new arrangements “may not be well received in the first season” and proceeded to implement the plan.
Did the board know how unpopular this would be?
Absolutely:
A lot of unhappy people at board meetings [were] screaming at us and yelling at us. So I’m just kind of warning everyone that there will likely be blowback to this, even with the fact that you can still walk the beach
Park Board Commissioner – March 18, 2024 Committee Meeting
May not be well received in the first season
Staff Memorandum to the Board – March 15, 2024
No one wants to add a fence to the park around South Beach
Steve Wilson – May 10, 2024
Did the board consult the public before this decision?
No. For a decision of this magnitude, the Park District Board should have held multiple public hearings and conducted surveys of beach users about these potential changes. Instead, the board first raised this issue at a March committee meeting that is rarely attended by the public and not video recorded. The agenda published in advance of the meeting described the discussion as “South Beach Operational Management,” likely in violation of the Open Meetings Act due to its unreasonably vague description. The go-ahead for the changes was apparently given at that time, despite anticipation of community outrage by board and staff. By apparent design, most people did not find out about the changes until the fence was installed on May 12, and more than 50 residents and non-residents subsequently attended a May 20 board meeting, many speaking out against the decision.
Why was the fence placed on South Beach?
What about the dunes?
Signs on the fence suggest that it was installed to help “dune restoration,” but executive director Steve Wilson stated that is not the case at the May 20 committee meeting.
It was for “inappropriate behavior,” right?
The Wilmette Park District Board has said that the fence and accompanying admission fees for South Beach were set up to address what its website calls “safety reasons.” Executive Director Steve Wilson stated at a May 20 public board meeting that there were “multiple times where…hundreds of people, circling our staff, threatening them. The police were on site.” FOIA requests to the police department for incidents as Mr. Wilson claimed returned a single event recorded by police as a “low-priority incident” that involved 40-50 people who were “sent on their way with no further incident.” No incidents or arrests relating to threatening or violent behavior were reported by police in the past four years during the summer swimming season.
More swimming?
In addition, the park district stated that the new fees were required to pay for lifeguards to provide additional swimming areas around a portion of South Beach. However, the park district later attested that they received no correspondence from residents requesting additional swimming areas. During much of the summer, despite charging admission fees, lifeguards were completely absent from the beach, more typically than not, seated at a picnic table facing away from the water, or suntanning rather than stationed at their lifeguard chairs. Furthermore, swimming is still not allowed on a considerable section of South Beach, which is now fenced off and unavailable to those who cannot or chose not to afford the fees.
Furthermore, the Park District’s commercial operations at the lakefront enjoy a tremendous surplus of funding, in one of the wealthiest communities in the country. The most recent revenue statement shows a $1.8 million lakefront surplus in just six months, and that’s not even including day camp rentals of the beach, which bring in significant additional income. If there even were demand for additional swimming areas, the cost of even four additional lifeguards would pale in comparison to this surplus, and wouldn’t require additional spending on security that the district has hired, totalling to coincide with the new policies.
Well, then what is the real reason?
Recent turnover and turmoil within the Wilmette Park District’s management may have contributed to the increasingly heavy-handed approach to controlling the lakefront culminating in the fence this year. Since May 2023, the district has replaced at least nine manager-level and above staff members, including the lakefront manager, with new and inexperienced individuals.
Previously, the beach was managed with respect and a cooperative attitude towards visitors. The former management team focused on building positive relationships and using de-escalation techniques to handle conflicts. This approach has shifted to a more controlling and condescending method under the new management, with teens, not trained in de-escalation, being inappropriately directed to act as beach security on what may be state-owned property where the Park District would not hold jurisdiction. The change in management style has led to a less welcoming environment for beach-goers, which contradicts the community-focused spirit that once characterized Gillson Beach.
So what should they do?
Unfence Gillson is sympathetic to some of the park district’s concerns but does not believe a fence and fees solves these issues. We believe that the concerns raised by the Park Board could be addressed through seeking more experienced management who can successfully run a lakefront without a fence. The organization stands ready, once the fence is permanently removed, to help develop solutions and make the South Beach experience better for everyone.
Can I walk along the beach like I always have?
Yes and no. Employees stopping families at the gates are not informing them of this alternative option and park district staff stated that they will not allow people carrying towels or other beach paraphernalia to walk along the beach without paying the requisite fees.
“No fee is required for shoreline walkers,” the Park District website states. “Those who enjoy walking along the Gillson Park shoreline are invited to so do so at no charge.” But those enjoying this privilege will not allowed to stop or sit, according to the website, though park officials have said this provision will not be enforced. What is not stated on the website is that such walkers could have to go through as many as three checkpoints as they proceed along the beach, and they will no longer be able to bring along their leashed dogs.
What about liability concerns? Couldn’t the Park District be sued if someone is injured on the beach?
Concerns about liability for beach accidents are sometimes raised as a justification for restrictive measures like fences and fees. However, these concerns are overstated, especially considering the unique legal status of Gillson Beach. The land adjacent to the water at Gillson Beach may be State of Illinois property, which would not fall under Wilmette Park District jurisdiction.
Furthermore, Illinois law recognizes the “open and obvious” doctrine, which states that property owners are not liable for injuries caused by conditions that are clearly visible and known to visitors. Natural bodies of water, like Lake Michigan, are considered open and obvious dangers, significantly limiting the Park District’s liability for swimming-related incidents. The state’s possible ownership of the beach area further complicates any liability claims against the Park District.
The presence of a fence and charging admission fees could potentially increase liability risks rather than reduce them. When a fee is charged and lifeguards are provided, there’s an implied promise of safety, which could make the Park District more vulnerable to lawsuits if an incident occurs. Many beaches across Illinois and the country operate successfully with “swim at your own risk” policies, combined with clear signage about potential hazards, providing adequate protection against liability claims while maintaining open access.
The Park District, like any organization, faces various inherent liabilities in its operations. For example, the district is currently subject to a $5 million lawsuit related to allegations of management misconduct, demonstrating that liability issues extend far beyond beach safety. While minimizing the risk of lawsuits is important, it shouldn’t come at the cost of public access and enjoyment of community resources, and certainly not if it results in increased liability.
Ultimately, the combination of the “open and obvious” doctrine, the state’s possible ownership of the beach area, and the long history of safe public access to Gillson Beach demonstrates that liability concerns are not a compelling reason for restrictive measures like fences and fees. The Wilmette Park District can confidently maintain Gillson Beach as an open, welcoming space for all, honoring its status as a public trust and preserving the community’s longstanding connection to this natural resource.
How did the Park Board vote on the fence decision, and have they expressed any regret?
The Wilmette Park District Board did not hold a formal public vote on the installation of the Gillson Beach fence. Instead, the decision was made during a Committee of the Whole meeting in March, rarely attended by the public, where the board directed staff to proceed with the fence installation and fees. The agenda for this meeting was vaguely worded as “South Beach Operational Management,” possibly violating the Open Meetings Act. Since the fence’s installation, no board members have publicly expressed regret or reconsidered their decision, despite widespread (and correctly anticipated) community opposition and calls for its removal.
It’s worth noting the terms of the current board members expiring in April 2025: Kara Kosloskus, Patrick Duffy, and Allison Frazier. Executive Director Steve Wilson’s contract expires in early 2025 and it is expected that a renewal will be considered this year. Expiring in 2027: Cecilia Clarke, Julia Goebel, Patrick Lahey, and Michael Murdock.
What can I do about the fence and the changes to South Beach?
- Attend a meeting of the Wilmette Park District Board and make your voice heard during public comment. It meets on the second Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers on the second floor of the Wilmette Village Hall, 1200 Wilmette Ave.
Committee of the Whole Meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Monday of each month in the Mallinckrodt Center, 1041A Ridge Road in Wilmette. (The Park Board discontinued all other committees, including the Lakefront Committee in June 2022) - Send an email with your views to our elected Park Board officials using this pre-written letter and customize it to your liking.
- Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed.
Why are they searching bags specifically at South Beach?
No reason was given in the March 15 board memo that justified bag searches specifically at South Beach. However, this beach until this season had been used by people who could not afford to pay the high non-resident fees at the paid section, and searching bags in addition to the new fees that many cannot afford appears to be another way to discourage and keep out less affluent visitors from enjoying Lake Michigan, a State of Illinois natural resource.
What can I do to support Unfence Gillson?
- Attend Park Board meetings and make your voice heard.
- Report changes, observations and conversations to the group that need our attention.
- Contribute to our fundraiser.
- Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed.
- Attend our rallies and other events (visit the website for updates) and contact area media outlets about these issues.
- Put up a sign in your yard supporting Unfence Gillson (see the website for details) and advocating for a free and open South Beach.
- Volunteer to pass out leaflets at high traffic areas.