Kenilworth beachfront project on track, takes work indoors

The extensive work taking place at one of Kenilworth’s prized community treasures is going swimmingly thus far, according to town officials.

Village Manager Kathy Thake during the board’s Tuesday, Dec. 9 meeting described to trustees positive progress on the town’s ongoing beach improvement project, saying work is “going very well.”

According to Thake, the majority of efforts on the large-scale endeavor have now shifted indoors given the recent winter weather and subsequent drop in temperature.

When it falls below 20 degrees, outdoor machines cannot effectively operate outdoors, Thake noted, adding that recent indoor work resulted in the building’s powering being turned on.

“The project is moving along so far with no issues,” Thake told the board. “We can’t wait to see it done.”

The village is in the midst of the project’s second phase, a time that will push forward much of the bulk of the improvements — and costs — of the effort.

This phase of work, as previously reported by The Record, includes adding a new bathroom facility, additional storage, an ADA-compliant pedestrian ramp, improved access features and improved landscaping.

The project’s first phase of work largely focused on shoreline protection.

Thake’s update Dec. 9 reaffirmed previous public statements from village officials that the second phase is expected to be completed in time for the 2026 beach season, which typically begins around Memorial Day.

Trustees during a late November meeting added on to the slate of improvements, confirming that updates to the beach’s plaza will now be part of the project as well. That aspect of work along Kenilworth’s lakefront that was previously planned but had since been excluded from the project’s scope.

“Higher than expected” construction costs led to the initial tabling of updates to the plaza, but community donations totaling half a million dollars put the expanded scope back in play.

Additional work could be completed over what village officials described as a multi-year construction timeline that could start in the fall of 2026, but will depend on the amount of village funds available.

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