North Shore area beaches ordered closed by health department due to pandemic

SHOREWOOD (CBS 58) -- After getting complaints about people gathering on beaches, the North Shore Health Department has decided to close several of them to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

The beaches impacted are Atwater Beach in Shorewood, Big Bay/Buckley Park in Whitefish Bay, Klode Park in Whitefish bay and Tietjen Beach at Doctor’s Dark in Fox point.

“It’s definitely a bummer, I was here a few days ago and I saw a lot of people out and about,” said Rachal Rapala, who lives nearby.

Health director, Ann Christiansen said it’s to keep the community safe and healthy. “There is community spread, which means people are acquiring the virus from places that we are not aware of, so this is just further limiting the opportunity for that transmission.” 

Although the beaches are closed, the public parks remain open, but you have to keep it moving.

“We don’t want any team sports, contact sports. We don’t want any groups staying in the parks for picnics and to congregate at the parks,” Christiansen said.

Law enforcement are patrolling the beaches and those in violation could get a citation, if needed. “It’s certainly possible that there could be citations down the road, but we feel people are pretty complaint with these types of things,” Christiansen said.

North shore area beaches are closed concurrent as Wisconsin’s 'Safer at Home' order, in effect until April 24th.