The 快播视频 is excited to announce the City鈥檚 22 beaches will open this Friday, May 23rd for the 2025 season. The 2025 beach season runs through Labor Day, Monday, September 1, 2025. All beach details are available at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/beaches.
鈥淭he 2025 Beach season is here, and the 快播视频 is ready to welcome locals and tourists to Chicago鈥檚 22 pristine beaches and 26-miles of lakefront, including North Avenue Beach, which has been nominated for Best Lake Beach, as part of ,鈥 said 快播视频 General Superintendent and CEO, Carlos Ramirez-Rosa. 鈥淥ur well-trained lifeguard team will be on duty to provide increased public safety and enriching summer experiences for all visitors enjoying Chicago鈥檚 majestic beaches this season.鈥
Due to its robust and early recruitment efforts in 2024, the Park District will open all beaches seven days a week on May 23 as well as all pools on June 21. So far, over 2,800 lifeguard applications have been submitted. This number exceeds our goal and is back to pre-pandemic amounts. Potential lifeguards are in the process of completing the required trainings and onboarding before their start date along Chicago鈥檚 beaches or at Park District indoor and outdoor pools.
LIFEGUARD TRAINING
The Park District鈥檚 鈥淵our Perfect Summer Job鈥 campaign efforts, which kicked off in November 2024, have been successful in inspiring more than 2,800 candidates to step-up and apply to be lifeguards this summer. In conjunction with the launch of the recruitment campaign, the Park District reinforced its Learn-to-Swim to Lifeguard pipeline through the Lifeguard Explorers Training Program and expanded seasonal Learn to Swim classes. Through the Lifeguard Explorers program, students received a $475 stipend for completing the course, which aided in restoring the lifeguard recruitment pipelines disrupted during the pandemic. The course, targeted to west and south side communities, provided Chicago residents additional opportunities to learn how-to swim.
In addition to the stipend-based course offered at four park locations during after-school hours to accommodate academic schedules, the Park District gave interested swimmers $400 to complete the required American Red Cross specialty certification, paid three-day safety operations trainings for new lifeguards, and increased hourly salary rate to $19.75.
We are still accepting applicants for the final swim test of the season on May 31st. For more information about the requirements to be a lifeguard and to register for the test click here.
As the summer beach season takes-off, the Park District will continue its recruitment efforts in anticipation of opening all pools on June 21st. Pool schedules for each park location will be posted on the 快播视频 website prior to opening date.
Summer Lifeguard Trainings
In addition to being American Red Cross certified, all Chicago lifeguards have completed an extensive swim skills-test that includes a 200-yard swim test, a 20-yard underwater swim, and retrieval of a 10-pound object from a depth of 10-14 feet.
WATER QUALITY
Water quality testing is important to public safety, and the partnership with the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health to use the 快播视频EPA鈥檚 rapid test method at all beaches enables the Park District to make testing results available for public awareness in an expedited manner.
The speedy testing method uses DNA detection of Enterococci instead of culturing live E. coli bacteria cells, and cuts the time required for test results from 18 to 24 hours to only 3 to 4 hours.
During the beach season, this process ensures quality conditions for residents and visitors who frequent the beaches and lakefront. Keeping beaches clean also helps to prevent water quality swim advisories.
Beaches will be sampled seven days a week and information will be reported to the public via 快播视频 website and a color-coded flag system at the beaches.
The Park District cleans beaches on a daily basis, starting before dawn. There are tractors pulling beach raking machines that clean the beaches every day with support from crews of laborers that hand-pick litter and empty trash cans in the summer. Beach sweepers clear paths for pedestrians and bike trail users. Patrons can help the Park District maintain our beaches free of waste by placing all garbage and recycling in their appropriate containers.
BEACH SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS
Water Safety
As part of the Park District鈥檚 ongoing water safety campaign to help families stay safe while enjoying the lakefront this summer, the Park District will kick off this year鈥檚 Water Safety Trainings on May 28th at Chicago beaches.鈥 Three trainings at three different beaches will be offered every Wednesday through June 25th at 6:00 p.m. For the complete water safety trainings schedule, please click here.
Security, Equipment & Resource Improvements
The safety of our park patrons and staff is paramount. As the Park District prepares for the opening of beaches at the end of the week and increased activity along the lakefront, we have various safeguards in place to ensure that our staff are trained and ready to prevent and respond to any issues that may arise.
The Park District Security deploys its designated lakefront beach mobile unit, made up of six prominently marked vehicles, to patrol the lakefront daily during beach hours of operations daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., starting Friday, May 23 through Labor Day, September 1. Security also works closely with the Chicago Police to address any issues and create a safe and enjoyable beach experience for visitors.
The Park District is one of the only aquatics corps to still use boats as an additional resource in our efforts to keep Chicago鈥檚 beach visitors and swimmers safe. Last year, the Park District has added 2 new power boats to add to its 100 strong fleet.
Newly refreshed, 鈥淪wim Only When Lifeguards are on Duty鈥 and 鈥淣o Diving鈥 as well as 鈥淣o Swimming鈥 signage will be visible along the lakefront this summer. Red, yellow and green flags are ready to fly on poles at all swimming beaches to display the beach鈥檚 current swim status. In addition, life preserver equipment is available in areas where swimming is not allowed, to further safeguard beach visitors.
FLAG NOTIFICATION SYSTEM
The 快播视频 will continue to utilize the flag notification system and interactive web page to display swim status, water quality, weather data, location information, amenities, directions and historical details about each of the 22 lakefront beach locations.
The following flag notification system tells patrons the current status of beaches:
- Green 鈥 Swimming is permitted. Weather conditions are fair and water quality is good.
- Yellow 鈥 Swimming is permitted, but caution is advised. Weather conditions are unpredictable or bacteria levels are higher than the water quality criteria set by EPA for notifying the public.
- Red 鈥 Swimming is not permitted. Weather conditions are dangerous or water quality conditions are dangerous.
Lifeguards will prominently post a red flag at the end of the night to remind patrons that swimming is no longer permitted. That flag will remain in place throughout the night until the start of the next lifeguard shift at 11 a.m.
ACCESSIBILITY
Beach walkways that are placed over sand allow individuals with wheelchairs, walkers, crutches and/or strollers to access our beach shoreline by traveling along a sturdy path. The International Symbol of Access (wheelchair icon) indicates accessible beaches.
The following locations have a beach wheelchair available for free use with a valid ID. Visit the lifeguard office at the beach houses to check one out.
- Osterman Beach
- Foster Beach
- Montrose Beach
- North Avenue Beach
- 31st St. Beach
- 63rd St. Beach
- South Shore Beach
- Rainbow Beach
CONCESSIONS & FACILITIES
More than 60 lakefront concessionaires will also return this year beginning Memorial Day weekend. The 快播视频 is pleased to welcome back lakefront concessions for the 2025 season featuring a variety of both indoor and outdoor dining experiences, water recreational activities, and retail options. For a complete list of Park District approved concessioners, click here. 快播视频 approved vendors will be identified by a red permit seal.
New featured vendors include:
- Nene鈥檚 Clear Kayak Photography at Margaret T. Burroughs Park near 31st Street Beach
- Iced N Tapped at Lincoln Park and North Ave Beach Chess Pavilion
- Balloon Bestie Bear Kiosk at Grant Park's Queen鈥檚 Landing
- Chicago Eats Sweet Tea & Lemonade at Grant Park's Museum Campus
- Hello Boba at Grant Park near Michigan and Roosevelt
In addition to beaches, other summer park facilities and opportunities are available. The Lakefront Trail remains open for pedestrian and recreational use. The 快播视频 recently switched on the Buckingham Fountain, which will remain on through mid-October, and looks forward to summer programming, including junior lifeguards and day camp. Registration is underway. Visit to view and register for summer programs, which kicks off the week of June 23rd.
GENERAL BEACH GUIDELINES
Patrons are asked to observe the following beach rules:
- Obey lifeguards and swim only when lifeguards are on duty in designated swim areas.
- Do not swim if the flag is red.
- Follow lifeguards鈥 instructions.
- No glass, alcohol or smoking on the beach.
- Permits are required for gatherings of 50 or more people, use of amplified sound, and concessions/vendors. More information about permits is available at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/permits-rentals.鈥
- Properly dispose of food, diapers and other refuse. Do not feed birds.
- Dogs are only allowed in designated dog areas.
- Please put swim diapers on small children.
- Grilling is only allowed in designated areas and coals should be disposed in the red-hot metal containers. For more information, visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/grilling.
- Keep accessible beach walks clear. No bicycling, skateboarding or rollerblading is permitted in these areas.
- Access to the Lake Michigan Water Trail for sports such as kayaking, canoeing and other non-motorized board or paddle sports is allowed at 12th Street Beach. For more information, go to the rules page and download information on Lake Michigan water trails.
- Only Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices (PFDs) are permitted. Children wearing PFDs should have an adult with them in the water.
- Swimming is permitted and lifeguards are on duty at all beaches from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., unless otherwise posted.
- Only authorized vehicles are allowed on parkland or on the beach.
Beach goers can also access information on swim status or list of locations by checking www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/beaches or following us on Facebook, Instagram and X for the swim status at each beach.
Admission to Chicago鈥檚 beaches is free.