FOREST PARK BEACH

About Forest Park Beach

Visitors to this 29+ acre park can enjoy the large beach and grass areas, swimming and other water activities. Open year round, park amenities include sheltered pavilions, a fishing pier, boat launching ramp and storage area, walking paths and a concession stand open during the summer months. Sailing classes and camps, sailboat and kayak rentals, volleyball nets, and grills are just some of the amenities available through the Lake Forest Parks and Recreation Department.

Lifeguards are on duty daily from 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m., Memorial Day Weekend and then beginning Saturday June 9- Sunday August 12th. After August 12th the lifeguards will be on duty, weekends only until Labor Day.

Lake Forest residents can reserve beach facilities. A valid Lake Forest vehicle license is required for beach level parking.

For more information check out our brochure below

Lake Forest Resident Identification

Proof of Lake Forest residency will be required on weekends and holidays for everyone using the beach facilities. The City of Lake Forest realizes that some children may not have a valid piece of identification to guarantee free admittance to the beach facility.  A Forest Park Beach Identification card can be made for any Lake Forest resident at the Lake Forest Recreation Center (400 Hastings Road) between the hours of  8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday – Saturday.

Non-Resident Usage

The non-resident usage fee of $10/person / day will go into effect Memorial Day weekend
May 26-28, 2012. This usage fee will be charged on weekends and holidays for the 2012
beach season. Residents will be required to show proof of City of Lake Forest residency
at the five open entrances to the facility. Appropriate forms of identification include drivers
license, state ID, school ID, Lake Forest water bill or a Forest Park Beach ID. A free Forest
Park Beach ID can be obtained at the Lake Forest Recreation Center, 400 Hastings Rd,
between the hours of 8:30 AM– 4:30 PM, Monday– Saturday.

Non-residents of any age, planning to spend a holiday or weekend day at the beach will
be charged a daily usage fee of $10 per person. This fee is non-refundable. Non-resident
drop-off and access to the beach facility will be at the northern most entrance of the wooden
walk ramp which is located just south of the upper circle drive and Spring Lane.

Watercraft Usage Program:

Don’t have a way to get on the water this summer? Come use our sailboats, kayaks, and boards! For just a small fee, you can get on the water with your favorite watercraft, single and double kayaks, 420 sailboats, windsurfers, and now introducing paddleboards! All equipment is usable on a first come first serve basis. It is located at cell 4 next to the Boat Pavilion. Use by the hour or for the full day. Just show up at the beach and let our staff set you up!!! Hours 10am-5pm Mon-Sun
Contact Hunter Ratliff for more information. 

Watercraft usage Fee’s

Pavilion Rentals

The South Pavilion, Boat Pavilion, Forest Park Bluff, and Fire Circle are available for party rentals except on holidays and holiday weekends. Lake Forest Residents may rent either of these pavilions for a 4-hour time frame at a $75 rental fee with a $150 refundable litter deposit. The North Pavilion is for drop-in use only and is not available for rental. For further information regarding pavilion rentals please call Anthony Anaszewicz, Program Manager at 847-810-3945.

The Fire Circle which is located on the lower level of Forest Park, north of the Sailboat Compound, in the upper grass area can be rented in the same manner as the South and Boat Pavilions. It is reminiscent of the original Jens Jensen Council Ring familiar in and popular with the North Shore communities. It is the perfect setting for fireside discussions and stories. The Fire Circle is a stand alone rental and it requires a Burn Permit obtained from the Lake Forest Fire Department.

Forest Park Bluff is the grass park land located on the upper level of the Beach Facilities at Deerpath and Lake Roads. The southern portion of the park can be rented for parties under the same guidelines of the pavilion rentals with parking access in the Upper South Lot.

Beach Pavilion Rental Permit Application Form (18k - 1 page)
Beach Pavilion Rental Permit Rules and Regulations (143k - 26 pages)

Fees for Forest Park Beach Stickers

The table below lists the fee for the 2012 season. If you would like to purchase storage space or obtain boat launching stickers, please register your information at the Lake Forest Recreation Center, Monday thru Friday, between the hours of  8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. If you have any questions, please call 847-234-6700.  The daily launch passes will be available to purchase at Forest Park Beach!  A fee of $37.00 will be charged for residents launching boats that are transported into the facility daily. We have a new Watercraft Impoundment Ordinance for boats contained in the compound or racks.  Please be aware of the policy. 

If you plan to use the Boat Basin Facility please read the following open letter to watercraft users and the rules listed below.

Open Letter to Boat Basin Users (42k - 3 pages)
Rules for Boat Basin Use (28k - 1 page)
Boating and fishing Rules and Regulations (35k -1 page)