Preliminary plans unveiled for Rosewood Beach in Highland Park

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Updated: February 27, 2012 8:19AM

The future of the scenic lakefront setting at the Park District of Highland Park’s Rosewood Beach is beginning to take shape, as new details of the beach overhaul project were unveiled Thursday.

Rick Stumpf, the district’s director of planning and projects, told the Rosewood Beach advisory task force that the Army Corps of Engineers is planning to double the size of the existing beach by adding barges of sand to build inlets and potentially five islands on the lake.

The islands’ purpose is structural, he explained, as they work to prevent future beach deterioration.

The Army Corps’ efforts are aimed at stabilizing and improving the structure and habitat of the 2,000-foot coastline. Meanwhile, the Park District has committed to enhance the user amenities at the community’s only swimming beach, located off of Roger Williams Avenue.

Chicago-based David Woodhouse Architects, who was selected as the winner of the district’s beach house design competition, also provided new site details on Thursday.

Woodhouse’s sketches feature a boardwalk that spans the entire length of the beach, connecting a series of four minimalist buildings. The new structures include a 1,000-square-foot educational or interpretive pavilion, a maintenance building, guard house, restrooms and concession stand.

Gaining traction Thursday among the nine-member advisory panel was a new proposal to relocate the once-controversial interpretive room — designed for park programming or event rentals — to the northernmost stretch of beach, also north of the parking lot. The revised design frees up more beachfront space for recreation and lake vistas, officials said.

“This is a very sensitive solution,” said task force member Steve Sider.

Residents derailed the district’s previous beachfront proposal, arguing that the overwhelming size and placement of the original structure detracted from the lakefront setting.

Bridge, boardwalk

According to the latest sketches, the existing entrance near the parking lot would be lined by a ravine habitat running to the lake. A new bridge would greet patrons and lead users to the beach. The connecting boardwalk continues north to the pavilion or south to the other three buildings and the site’s recreational offerings.

The boardwalk would be between 8- and 20-feet wide, depending on the section, and is designed in staggered segments to augment views of the lake and its coastline in both directions.

“Respecting the views is paramount,” said Park Board member Lori Flores Weisskopf, who also sits on the task force. “That’s been made clear by the community, and I think the boardwalk system works well with that.”

Task force member Edmond Zisook offered double “wows” for both Woodhouse’s preliminary design and the newly unveiled Army Corps plan.

“I think this is terrific,” he said.

Picnic, play areas

Plans also include picnic areas, a playground, volleyball courts and separate swimming and recreational beach areas.

Remaining decisions for the task force include how many bathroom fixtures are needed, if showers will be placed indoors or outdoors for sand rinsing only, the potential addition of changing rooms, and the location of the maintenance building.

The Park District’s facility and amenity redesign would precede the Army Corps project, Stumpf said. The Army Corps — which would cover 65 percent of the habitat and restoration improvements — would start its work late in 2013.

If approved by the Park Board, the district would be on the hook for the remaining 35 percent of the Army Corps’ project costs and the entire bill for its entire infrastructure package. The district must maintain the Army Corps project as well.

While a budget has yet to be provided, the new proposal is expected to be less than the original $2.9 million, 3,500-square-foot proposed bathhouse and pavilion.

The next advisory task force meeting has not been scheduled, as Stumpf explained that he must first take the newest plans to City Hall to ensure the proposal meets the city’s building and lakefront environmental codes.

During that time, Woodhouse architects will continue to refine its proposal in preparation of the next meeting. Woodhouse officials said its next presentation will focus on the buildings’ design details and pallets of potential building materials for the site.

A public presentation is expected in March, after the task force provides a recommendation. Park District Executive Director Liza McElroy said that timing allows Woodhouse and the Army Corps the opportunity to meld its plans to paint a full picture for the community to review.

Public input will be factored in before a final plan will appear before the Park Board, McElroy added.