Party, bike rodeo mark opening of Fox Lake beach; ‘It's a space for families to connect'

Chicago Tribune

02-06-2025

Fox Lake officials held a party and bike rodeo to mark the grand opening of the beach on Nippersink Lake in Lakefront Park.
The village and Fox Lake Police Department partnered in sponsoring the three-hour event, which included organized games, a DJ, giveaways, prizes, the operating splash pad, airborne colorful beach balls, a Zumba class, and a number of food trucks offering food and drink.
The park's amenities are free year-round and open from 8 a.m. until dusk, depending on the weather.
The ribbon-cutting to celebrate the opening of Lakefront Park was in May 2024, with the groundbreaking in June of 2023. U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Highland Park, secured $750,000 in federal funding to help build out the lakefront.
The property along Nippersink Lake used to be grassy leading up to the water's edge, which was good for fishing enthusiasts angling from the banks, but not so much for people wanting to dip their toes in sand.
The beach is not staffed by lifeguards, so adults must be present to watch their young swimmers.
'This new beach is more than just sand and shoreline,' Fox Lake Mayor Donny Schmit said. 'It's a space for families to connect, for kids to play and for our community to enjoy the waterfront we're so lucky to call home.
'We're proud to open Lakefront Park Beach as a place where memories will be made all summer long,' he said. 'We're an inclusive, welcoming community.'
Jennifer Kuhn, Fox Lake's program and events manager, said having a public beach is rare in Lake County's Chain O'Lakes system.
'This is one of the only public beaches in the area on the chain,' she said. 'Most of them are private or (Homeowners' Association) owned. Parks are really a great place for people to connect to make connections in the community.
'We're thrilled that we have this to offer to not only the residents, but visitors from surrounding communities,' Kuhn added.
The Bike Rodeo is in its fourth year, according to Jonathan Cawley, head of bicycle patrol for Fox Lake police, and also the school resource officer at Grant Community High School in Fox Lake. He said Saturday's rodeo had the best 'turnout that we've ever had, so it's nice.'
'It teaches bike safety,' Cawley said. 'We do a free helmet giveaway, and then we run them through a skills course and we teach them some safety about riding their bikes in the summertime … stopping at stop signs, riding with traffic, using hand signals.
'And they also get their bike inspected,' he said. 'They get their bike tuned up, make sure it's safe and ready to go for riding around this summer.'
Zach Cressler of Ingleside accompanied his son Zayden, 5, at the playground.
'The new park is great,' he said. 'Fox Lake did a really good job on it. The community needs to focus more on good family opportunities like this to enrich the community, and just bringing together people from all over. It's going to be cool for the Fourth of July celebration.'
The adjacent splash pad was busy with children in swimsuits who showed their delight at the water fountains and sprays at perhaps their first splash pad experience of the season.
Amira Darr, 2, of Fox Lake, rode playground swings and the kiddie green merry-go-round in view of her parents Shafi and Amberr.
'We love it; it's actually great for the kids,' Shafi Darr said of the reimagined lakefront.
Fox Lake neighbors Matt Hoeft and Dayna Haight stood in the bicycle tuneup line with Hoeft's children Piper, 9, and Wren, 4.
'I think it's wonderful, the kids get to be safer and have fun in the process, (as well as) meet some of the officers,' Matt Hoeft said.
To that, Dayna Haight said, 'It builds community.'