Why Do Some Chicago Beaches Have Concrete Instead Of Sand?

The city of Chicago has a lot of shoreline along Lake Michigan, and some of it is very unusual, but I finally have an explanation for why some of it is made of concrete steps instead of sandy beaches in Illinois.

Why Are Some Beaches In Chicago Made Of Concrete Steps Instead Of Sand?

One of the main reasons the Bears' new stadium won't be on Lake Michigan is because of "Friends of the Parks." It's an organization that protects the Lakefront. Unlike most cities on the water, Chicago only has a handful of buildings blocking the view. That is something I really like about it. I know the Windy City isn't known as a beach town, but it does have some really nice and unique ones.

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According to Secret Chicago...

Many Chicagoans choose to sunbathe, exercise, and swim off the concrete steps lining parts of the city’s shoreline, even though traditional sandy beaches are nearby.

 

a group of people walking down a sidewalk next to a body of water

If you have ever explored the lakefront and beaches in Chicago, you might have noticed something rather unusual. Though most of them are sand, there are quite a few that are made of concrete and set up like giant steps. Since I was a child, it has made me curious. Why would they do that? For some reason, I never found out the reason. I figured it had something to do with it being a big city.

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All these years later, I discovered they're called revetments. It is used to help prevent erosion and also as protection between the lake and the city. Years ago, the town leaders wanted to extend the parks and beaches along Lake Michigan. To do that, crews needed to build an artificial lakefront. Construction workers used debris from the Great Chicago Fire during the process. Experts believe a barrier was needed in some areas, so that's where the concrete beaches came in.