Park District of Highland Park issued the following announcement on Feb. 19.
Last November’s winter storm was one of the biggest November storms on record. The storm brought blizzard-like conditions to the area including 18-foot high waves along the Lake Michigan shoreline. This event, coupled with higher than average lake levels, triggered a Lake Shore Flood warning. As a result, Rosewood Beach sustained some additional erosion to the beach area. Areas affected include a portion of the bench seating near the Interpretive Center. The Park District has placed stones under and front of the bench to protect the area from further erosion while it explores long-term options.
Without the beach and rock breakwater structures that were engineered to withstand significant storms and absorb wave energy during periods of high lake water levels, the damage could have been significantly worse. In addition to the breakwater, 65,000 cubic yards of sand was added to the beach during Rosewood’s 2015 renovation, providing additional protection. Communities all along the Illinois Lake Michigan shoreline have been affected by beach erosion caused by storm damage concurrent with the high lake levels.
Rosewood’s guard building, concessions building, restrooms and Interpretive Center have not been affected by the recent storms. A foundation fortification around the Interpretive Center further protects the building from extended worst-case scenario conditions.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Park District of Highland Park
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