Humboldt Park Beach is back, baby.
The city's only inland beach closed last summer because officials did not want to pony up the $1 million-plus required to fill and maintain the lagoon. But after a good deal of pushback from community members and months of renovations, the beach is back and better than ever. This weekend, a reopening celebration will be held at the beach, which will include live music, a screening of Finding Nemo and other family friendly activities.
The revamped beach has a swimming area that's separated from the natural lagoon by way of a berm, a brand new pathway that will connect the lagoon to the northwest side of the park's field house and a 10-foot-deep cold water pocket that contains a bubbler, which will help solve the water circulation and bacteria problems that led to the beach being shut down on a regular basis prior to the beach's closing.
Humboldt Park Beach first opened in 1973, and has been a summertime hot spot ever since. Last year's closing was certainly a bummer, but this year's improvements provide an excellent alternative to the city's lakefront beaches.