On Saturday, Chinthana Wimalasuriya took a few tentative steps into the water at North Avenue Beach and immediately turned back around.
A short time later, the 29-year-old Carbondale resident steeled himself and waded deeper into the water for a few minutes before heading back to the sand. His wife, Sunimali Rathnayake, outlasted him.
“It’s a little bit cold,” Wimalasuriya said.
Down the beach, a Lincoln Park couple sunbathed despite chilly temps in the mid-50s in the early afternoon.
“It’s a holiday weekend, so we have to,” said 24-year-old Jillian Zalewski. “We’re going to stay here for about two hours — maybe a little more.”
Going in the water, however, was not an option for her boyfriend, 24-year-old Cooper Fitz.
“If I was trying to prove something, sure, but I’m not, so I’ll stay out of the water today,” he said.
Given the nippy start to Chicago’s beach season, only a small number of visitors kicked off Memorial Day weekend at North Avenue and 31st Street beaches on Saturday. Almost everyone avoided swimming, opting instead to sunbathe, build sandcastles, play volleyball, run and bike. A few mounted paddle boards. Only one family was spotted grilling.
Starting this weekend, Chicago’s 22 beaches will be open seven days a week through Labor Day. They’ll certainly get more crowded as the summer months stretch on. Those out Saturday made the most of the scenery, taking in a bit of paradise in the middle of the city.
“The beaches are surprising,” Zalewski said. “It’s like a beach from down South. And when you look into the water and you don’t see the city, you can feel like you’re anywhere else.”
For new Illinois residents like Wimalasuriya and Rathnayake, both from Sri Lanka, Chicago’s beaches serve as a reminder of their native country.
“It feels like home here,” Rathnayake said.
“We are from a beach island, and we think this is close enough,” Wimalasuriya added.
The beaches also made an impression on out-of-towners like Siyu Zhang. The Hong Kong resident took selfies with her boyfriend, Haoxuan Wang, at 31st Street Beach.
“It’s so beautiful, and the lake is too blue,” said Zhang, who is 26.
North Avenue Beach is the city’s most popular, but 31st Street Beach has been attracting visitors due in part to its view of the skyline, said Sam Jorden, manager of beaches and pools for the Chicago Park District.
Jorden said he expected a full staff at the city’s beaches and pools, which will open June 21. And the park district has received more than 2,800 lifeguard applications, which is similar to pre-pandemic numbers.
Besides partnering with Chicago police, the Chicago Park District security utilizes a lakefront beach mobile unit of six vehicles that patrol the lakefront. A fleet of boats is also used to keep beachgoers safe. Additionally, the park district maintains a flag notification system to communicate weather conditions and water safety to swimmers.
“Our staff is highly trained and ready to keep the beach safe,” Jorden said. “But we want to remind people that it’s not just a lifeguard’s job to keep people safe. Everybody has to do their part and follow the rules and stay in designated swim zones.”
Jorden also urged visitors to be respectful and “just be ready to bring the positive vibes out.”
The vibes were chill at 31st Street Beach on Saturday, especially for Jabri Williams, of Edgewater, who was sitting peacefully in the sand with his daughter, Hazel.
“She loves the water,” Williams said of his 3-year-old, who perks up whenever they drive along Lake Shore Drive. “I literally can’t pick her up from school and go by without her saying that she would like to get in it or be around it.”
Williams, 29, who is originally from Hyde Park, said it’s important for him to bring Hazel to the South Side.
“I just want her to understand where I grew up and the type of stuff that I did,” he said. “It’s a big deal for me.”
He also encouraged others to get some fresh air.
“I hope everybody is safe and enjoys the Chicago summer,” he said. “I feel like we’re so tech-savvy and everything is remote. It’s nice to get out and play.”
