Evanston Dog Beach Passes Go On Sale For Licensed, Vaccinated Canines

EVANSTON, IL — The Evanston Dog Beach is scheduled to officially reopen March 1, with dog owners able to begin purchasing passes next week, city staff announced.

The city's dog beach is located at 1811 Sheridan Road, south of Clark Street Beach and north of the Church Street boat launch.

“The Dog Beach provides an opportunity for community members’ pets to swim, run and mingle on the shore of beautiful Lake Michigan,” Tim Carter, the the parks department recreation manager. “We are excited to be reopening this amenity for the community to use.”

Evanston has not set aside a portion of its lakefront for use by unleashed dogs since high lake levels led to the closure of the dog beach in 2018.

Dog beach passes go on sale Monday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays from community centers. Passes are $75 for residents of the 60201 and 60202 ZIP codes and $200 for non-residents.

Cook County ordinances require cities to verify vaccination information of pet owners before issuing a dog beach pass.

Dog owners much provide completed vaccination verification forms showing proof of current vaccinations or antibodies for rabies, distemper, hepatitis, para-influence, parvovirus, leptospirosis and bordetella, as well as proof of a negative fecal test for parasites by veterinarian's office within the last year.

To be eligible for a dog beach pass, all dogs must also be licensed by the local government where their owners live.

Evanston residents can purchase pet licenses online, by mail or in person. Licenses purchased online take about two weeks to arrive, and receipts of pet license purchase are not considered adequate proof.

And resident and non-residents alike must also sign a liability waiver agreeing to hold the city harmless for damages, injuries or death to any person or dog.

According to rules for the beach issued by the city, people with dogs must be at least 14 years old to use the beach, no one can bring more than two dogs and no puppies less than 4 months old or female dogs in heat are allowed.

The dog beach is open seasonally from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week.

Earlier: Evanston Dog Beach Reopening Set, Pets Will Need Vaccines, Licenses To Get Passes