With larger numbers of visitors coming to Sunrise Beach, the Lake Bluff Park District has raised its non-resident rates at the popular summer destination.
On July 4, the Park District introduced a new non-resident daily fee structure, noting it is the first rate increase since 2019.
“We are doing this to maintain the high level of service and safety for visitors to our beach that we have always had,” Park District Executive Director John Bealer said. “Right now, with the increased number of visitors, it has become more difficult for us to maintain that level and that is why we are bringing in extra staff to try and help out with that.”
Under the new plan, adults between the ages of 15-64 will pay $25, children between 2-14 years of age and adults over 65 will be charged $20 with active military and veterans set to pay $15.
Previously there had been four separate four rates with adults at $15, children at $12, seniors at $10 military at $7.50, according to Bealer.
Lake Bluff residents do not have to pay a fee to enter the beach as Park District officials believe they pay for access through their property taxes.
Bealer pointed to a 2023 online article placing Sunrise Beach 54th on a national list of the “Top Secret Beaches in America” as a main reason for increased interest in the beach.
“By calling it one of the top secret beaches in America, it is not a secret anymore,” he said.
Bealer added more than a year since its publication, the list is still getting passed around on social media.
“It has (led) to a lot more interest and visitors coming to the beach,” he said.
Bealer points to the recent Sunday through Sunday period covering July 4th as one way of showcasing higher attendance. In 2023 Sunrise Beach had just over 1,750 (both residents and non-residents) visitors when access was limited due to a North Shore Water Reclamation District construction project, he said.
In the same Sunday-to-Sunday period in 2024, attendance soared to almost 3,000, Bealer said. The additional number of beachgoers has led to larger costs for staffing and maintenance, he noted.
“It has been a dramatic increase, and it is a fairly small beach and caused more issues that take a lot of attention from staff with an increased amount of litter and people trying to find available space at the beach,” he said.
Bealer said the Park District has a $268,000 budget for aquatic staff, group instructors and various maintenance costs.
On the revenue side, the Park District is anticipating nearly $107,000 in revenue through daily fees, dog beach passes, shelter reservations and group lessons. The balance of the incoming funds comes from local property taxes.
Bealer said the Park District is also facing larger expenditures for its aquatic staff due to annual increases in the minimum wage.
Despite the fee increase, Bealer still expects strong attendance for the rest of the summer.
“I think it will continue to be higher than what it was in the past,” he said. “This may diminish some of it, but it will still be a high rate.”
Sunrise Beach will be open until Labor Day.
Non-residents can only purchase a daily pass to access Sunrise Beach, with weekly and monthly passes not available.