Please Don't Visit My Rosewood Beach

Just a mile from my house in Highland Park, is Rosewood Beach. It is a frequent destination for my evening walks, and it is part of one of my preferred routes when I run in the morning.

My wife and I bought our house in 2007 and being close to the lake and an accessible beach is a great amenity. Rosewood Beach was okay. Not great, but a comfortable walk, or really quick drive.

A handful of years ago, the city green lit a lofty renovation of Rosewood Beach, a $14.5 million collaborative project by the city of Highland Park and the Army Corps of Engineers.

Like any local project, there were town hall meetings with presentations and quite a bit of discussion that featured the requisite boosters and detractors. Many residents, including my household, were looking forward to the renovation. Neighbors to the beach property were concerned about the implications of construction as well as potential new uses of the beach.

A one-story, glass, multi-purpose structure, referred to as an "interpretive shelter" to be used for various city and private events became an issue. People worried that its presence would invite traffic and large parties of noisy people.

And, that's about as much detail into the project and process that I'm going to cover in this piece.

In 2015, following the completion of the project, Rosewood Beach reopened. It was well thought out, with a new boardwalk spanning the entire length of the property, a nature trail, and new structures for bathrooms, lockers, a concession stand, lifeguard station and of course the "interpretive shelter."

The beach was and continues to be beautiful. A cove, a playground area for children, a lot of clean, comfortable sand to walk or spread a towel, and some creative, integrated lounging options. And, as much as I like hanging out with my beagle, Bialy, I appreciate that no dogs are allowed at Rosewood Beach.

They did such a good job, the project has won several awards, most recently receiving the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2018 Small Projects Design Award, as well as being a contributing factor in WalletHub's ranking of Highland Park fourth among the country's lakeside beach towns.

It is so nice, so pleasant and so relaxing, I'm just going to have to ask everybody to not visit Rosewood Beach. I want it all to myself.

Seriously, if there was a program that enlisted volunteers to stay in the interpretive shelter to watch over the property overnight, I would do that. I run down to the beach at sunrise quite often and it is hard to beat!

I grew up in Wilmette and Gillson Park was our beach. There's a big harbor, the beach is substantial in size, and the Bahai Temple is across the street, making Gillson virtually impossible not to find. Frankly, anybody can just aim their car east on Lake Avenue and eventually, they'll hit Gillson even if they aren't looking for the place.

But Rosewood Beach is just a driveway tucked between houses on the east side of Sheridan Road, or alternatively, a discreet staircase leading down from humble Rosewood Park, which sits on the bluff overlooking the shore.

I'd like to keep this neighborhood gem under wraps, as a sanctuary for personal reflection and relaxation by me and other residents from the adjacent streets.

If by chance you are driving up or down Sheridan Road in Highland Park and notice the entrance of Rosewood Beach, slow down and wave but please, just keep driving. If you're heading north, there are other beaches and lakefront parks in Highland Park, at Park Avenue and Moraine Park, and the recently reopened Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve, which is also amazing. If you're heading south, you'll find a nice beach in Glencoe, in Winnetka at Tower Road and Elder Lane, Gillson Park in Wilmette and then really cool lakefront options in Evanston.

Listen, Lake Michigan is huge, with plenty of shore in northeastern Illinois, or in Indiana, Wisconsin and of course its namesake, Michigan. Have you ever vacationed on the beach in Michigan City, Indiana or in the many small, delightful Michigan towns that skirt Lake Michigan? They are all simply delightful. Everybody should dip their toes in the water's edge in any of those towns, and just leave Rosewood Beach to me.

The other evening, I walked down to the beach and crossed paths with a group of whom I believe were monks--the flowing robes, the grace--that were strolling along the boardwalk. Okay, those guys can stay because monks are pretty cool and I like their vibe.