Milwaukee's McKinley Beach to reopen

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee's McKinley Beach closed in August of 2020, following several drownings and near-drownings. Nearly four years later, the Milwaukee County Parks Department is preparing for its reopening this summer. 

Parks department officials are aiming to reopen McKinley Beach in May, just before Memorial Day.

Sarah Toomsen, a planning and development manager for the Milwaukee County Parks Department, said engineering analysis found certain parts of the beach that were supposed to be, and originally were, only around 2-2.5 feet in depth had deteriorated to a depth of around 6 feet due to sand loss.

The analysis findings, according to Toomsen, likely contributed to the drownings that ultimately closed the beach in August of 2020. 

In June of 2023, hundreds of truckloads of sand were brought to the beach to shore up those areas that were impacted and restore it to the target range of two feet in depth in wading areas. 

Park officials are also increasing safety signage at the beach, including a signage kiosk that shares safety information with beachgoers.