'Rethink This Monstrosity': Residents Criticize New Gillson Park Fence

WILMETTE, IL — A new fence and fee system at Wilmette's Gillson Park has drawn sharp criticism from residents. Wilmette Park District staff said they are open to making changes in the future.

Executive Director Steve Wilson said the behavior of Gillson Park patrons has changed since the coronavirus pandemic. There have been more conflicts among patrons and between patrons and staff which "many times" resulted in police being called, Wilson said, in response to a concerned resident.

"We understand that this change will be hard for many people, and that removing the one free beach north of Chicago’s beaches is not ideal," Wilson said, "but this change is needed to make sure our patrons are not only safe, but can have a pleasant time with us."

Swimming had previously been prohibited at Gillson Park's South Beach. But this year, starting Memorial Day weekend, lifeguards will be on hand for a new, fee-based swim area at South Beach. The cost to enter is $5 for residents and $10 for residents, with only credit cards and Apple Pay accepted.

The fee is required whether or not beachgoers plan to swim. The only people who do not have to pay are those who walk along the shoreline — since the public trust doctrine holds that Lake Michigan is a public body of water held in trust for the people by the state, rather than the park district or private property owners.

The Wilmette Park District board gave staff the green light for the new policy at a March committee meeting. There was no vote on the change, through commissioners directed staff to move forward with it, according to the minutes.

Earlier this month, park district staff installed a new, slatted dune fence along Overlook drive, blocking views of the beach to control access.

"We're trying to make this work for everyone. The fence location was chosen after a lot of discussion. There's pros and cons to different options and this is what we went with," Wilson said at Monday's park district board meeting.

"But the thing that I want to impress on people the most is this is our first time doing this operation in this location," he said. "We're going to evaluate it. We're going to evaluate the successes and the failures of it. We're very open to making modifications when we're able to and as needed, because we do truly just want to make as good of a beach experience for people as we possibly can."

Resident Anne Audy said she was "appalled" at the districts decision to respond to enforcement issues by fencing off the beach.

"It’s clear you assign no value to the view of the lake from Overlook Drive. Those of us who visit Gilson Park regularly (for me, practically daily), the use of Overlook Drive provides a spectacular view of the lake that is not available anywhere else in the park," Audy said last month in an emailed public comment. "While I am still able to walk there, you should be aware that many elderly and disabled people park there and are able to view the lake from their cars."

Paul Wolfe said he was "astonished" last week to discover workers fencing off the beach, questioning whether it was a publicly open decision process.

"What is happening to Wilmette's community spirit and enjoyment of nature, when acres of the Gillson lake view are ruined by a rigid fence?" Wolfe asked last week in an emailed public comment.

"This is a sickening development," he said. "I would like an honest accounting of how this has happened."

Amanda Nugent, another village resident, addressed the park commissioners during the portion of Monday's board meeting dedicated to public comment. She said it was horrible that a fee is now required at the newly fenced-off portion of the beach, which she described as one of the village's biggest treasures.

"You can't ruin everybody else's privilege of being here because of some people's mistakes. It's not fair," Nugent said.

Nugent said she was OK with charging swimmers or boaters for use of the beach.

"But if you want to sit at the beach to watch nature, you now have to pay a fee, and that is inexcusable," she said, urging the board to "rethink this monstrosity."

Resident Jane Oh also addressed park commissioners Monday after, she said, seeing the new fence for the first time that morning. She described the view of the horizon is now obstructed from every bench and picnic table.

"As I was walking my dog, I saw the lovely old lady lady sitting, dismayed, on one of the benches. She looked really uncomfortable, she was sort of surrounded by fence on three sides," Oh said. "I said, 'What do you think?' She said she comes all year round to sit at the beach. She's a resident, and she felt like today she was in a prison."

Oh said she also spotted an older couple coming out of a car, one with a cane, who were "very taken aback by the view-destroying thing."

The park district has every right to make its own rules and regulations, Oh said, noting there had been issues at the beach long before the pandemic. But she contended there has to be a better solution than the fencing.

"It's like the defacing of a beautiful work of art so others can't enjoy it," she said. "And now we can't enjoy it either."

Wilson, the park district's executive director, said Monday he has heard the feedback from the public.

"We're taking it all into account," he said. "And as we move forward, we're going to make changes if we need to."