Rosewood Beach in Highland Park in line for major overhaul

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Rosewood Beach in Highland Park is shown in this file photo from August

Updated: January 20, 2012 5:19PM

Scenic Rosewood Beach in Highland Park would get a major overhaul that could include man-made islands, a boardwalk and four new buildings, under renovation plans starting to take shape.

Rick Stumpf of the Park District of Highland Park told the Rosewood Beach advisory task force Thursday that the Army Corps of Engineers is planning to double the size of the existing beach by bringing in barges of sand to build inlets and potentially five islands on Lake Michigan.

The islands would help prevent future erosion of the beach’s 2,000-foot coastline.

Also Thursday, Chicago-based David Woodhouse Architects unveiled sketches for the overhaul project that show a boardwalk that spans the length of the beach and connects a series of four minimalist buildings.

The new structures would include a 1,000-square-foot educational or interpretive pavilion, a maintenance building, guard house, restrooms and concession stand.

A new bridge would greet patrons and lead users to the beach. The connecting boardwalk would continue north to the pavilion or south to the other buildings.

“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.”

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

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

The park district would be on the hook for the remaining 35 percent the project cost, and would have to maintain the area after it’s done.