The Winnetka Park District’s plan to improve Centennial beach does not call for washroom facilities, so visitors seeking a toilet will be directed to wade into Lake Michigan, so they can avoid the private beachfront property owned by billionaire Phoenix Suns co-owner Justin Ishbia and walk to the restrooms at Elder Lane Beach.
Park District officials confirmed that plan during a district Board meeting Thursday evening.
“Right now we would propose that people would walk to, using the natural contours of the beach, walk across the property and access Elder to utilize the washrooms there,” Costa Kutulas, the district’s director of parks and maintenance, said.
Kutulas said officials have discussed adding porta potties to Centennial Beach.
“I think we’ll look at the demand and what that looks like and if we have to supplement we’ll look at those options,” Kutalas said. “For right now we would suggest for people to use the bathrooms that are brick-and-mortar, if you will.”
Park district officials agreed to a land swap deal with Ishbia in October 2020 which would have granted the village 261 Sheridan Road, the property between the two beaches, in exchange for a similarly-sized parcel on the southern edge of Centennial which he could add to his 3.7 acre property at 205 Sheridan Road.
That prompted Winnetka resident Robert Schriesheim to file suit against the Park District, arguing it shouldn’t be giving public land to private owners.
The Schriesheim lawsuit was back before a judge on Thursday but Shannon Q. Nazzal, the Park District’s executive director, said the court ordered another status hearing in the case for Oct. 7.
Also at the meeting Thursday, board members reviewed the latest details of the two separate projects, which stand at around $6.5 million for Centennial and around $6.8 million for Elder, not including contingency costs.
The plans call for the construction of boardwalks and breakwaters at both parks intended to retain sand for swimming beaches, one of which will be for dogs. The work will be ADA-compliant and will include native vegetation along walking pathways.
A significant expense will be the construction of two breakwaters, around $2.8 million for one at Centennial and $1.4 million for another at Elder Lane. Plans call for 6,400 tons of sand to be added to Centennial and 7,800 tons of sand to be added at Elder Lane, which will cost an estimated $568,000 in total.
Kutulas said officials hope to submit documents to the village soon so the plans can be reviewed by the Zoning Board of Appeals at their Sept. 24 meeting.
The plans call for the improvements to be completed before summer 2026.
Nazzal said Friday if the land swap is eventually permitted then park district officials would need to go through the permitting process again with the village, Army Corps of Engineers and Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
