Bluff Improvements

The bluff is the area of the park spanning from the edge of the table land down to the sand.

The bluffs along Lake Michigan are vital ecosystems that support plant and wildlife not found elsewhere. Because of the bluff’s juxtaposition along the lake and generally steep landscape, it is subject to erosion from stormwater, waves, wind, and rain.

Overtime, these vital ecosystems can become overgrown and infiltrated with invasive species that inhibit the growth of native understory plants whose deep root systems play a crucial role in preventing the oversaturation of soil and stability of the bluff. Coupled with improper drainage, the bluff becomes unstable and more susceptible to erosion.

While bluff erosion is a natural process that can’t be stopped, it can be slowed by implementing the following restoration measures:

• Removing invasive plants and trees to give understory vegetation room, sunlight, and nutrients to grow
• Replanting deep-rooted native understory vegetation to create a habitat crucial for bird and insect life and make the bluff more stable
• Improving drainage to reduce oversaturation of the soil and erosion from stormwater

In addition to stabilizing the bluff and returning them to their natural state, these measures will make the bluff more attractive and enhance the views of the lake from the table land.

Staircase + Platform Overlook

Based on community engagement conducted during the development of the Winnetka Waterfront 2030 plan, residents expressed a significant desire to improve the access stairs leading from the park to the beach at Tower Road. The old access stairs were cracked and uneven due to natural slope movement and erosion, causing them to be difficult to traverse. This infrastructure replacement was identified in the district’s Long Range Plan and deferred to coincide with the bluff restoration project.

Maple Gabion Wall

A gabion wall is a type of retaining wall made out of broken rock and mesh baskets. They have a more natural appearance than concrete structures and are equally effective at stabilizing soil and preventing bluff erosion. The old gabion wall at Maple Street Beach was constructed more than 30 years ago and had begun to show signs of weakening. Weakened areas of the wall were replaced to stabilize it and prevent future bluff erosion.