Milwaukee's McKinley Beach to receive '850 truckloads' worth of sand, could open by end of summer

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- It's been nearly three years since Milwaukee's McKinley Beach shut down in August 2020, following several drownings and near-drownings.

Now, it may only be a few more weeks until the beach reopens.

Construction is underway to reassess the area and make it safe for beachgoers and swimmers.

“We’re bringing sand to the site, nearly 11,500 cubic yards of sand," said Sarah Toomsen, a planning and development manager for the Milwaukee County Parks Department. 

That's equivalent to 850 truckloads worth.

“Lake Michigan has experienced many changes in water depths, there’s been erosion that’s taken place at the beach," Toomsen told CBS 58's Ellie Nakamoto-White. “That sand will be distributed not only to the beach that’s above the waterline but also pushing into the breakwater and past the breakwater.”

Officials said they hope that by increasing the amount of sand, the water's depths will be decreased.

“Our target depth at the breakwater is two-and-a-half feet and we’re hoping that folks can enjoy the beach from the breakwaters to the west and have a safe place for wading," Toomsen said. 

The project costs just over one million dollars, with the construction part sitting at $917,000.

That total includes labor costs, materials and the management of the project itself.

Officials are also working on using things like hydraulic modeling and other kinds of calculations to anticipate the beach's levels changing overtime.

“We’re going to keep track of the beach depth through periodic surveying of how much water there is," Toomsen said. "Through those periodic surveys, we’ll be able to understand how much water is at McKinley Beach and decide if we need to groom, if we need to add material, if we need to redistribute the material that’s already there.”

If construction continues at its current pace, McKinley Beach may be ready to open by the end of the summer, taking the area from a public safety hazard to a place for fun in the sun.

“By doing this leveled out grading, we’re hoping that it’s safer and ready for everyone to enjoy," Toomsen said.