Closed since 2020, McKinley Beach is reopening. What know about the timing and the changes

Get your swimsuits and suntan lotion ready, Milwaukeeans. McKinley Beach is set to reopen this week ahead of Memorial Day weekend.

After years being closed off to the public following a number of fatal drownings and extensive renovation efforts, Milwaukee County announced the reopening of the popular east side beach, located right next to Bradford Beach.

Here's what to know about the beach and its grand opening.

When will the beach officially open?

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and other local officials are holding a grand reopening at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.

When and why did McKinley Beach close?

McKinley Beach closed in August 2020 after growing concerns about riptides and a handful of drownings and several near-drowning incidents at the local beach.

In 2020, there were at least four drownings at McKinley, including the deaths of a 50-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy.

At least three of the reported deaths had been tied to the rip currents, according to a report carried out between fall 2021 and spring 2022. The report also showed that the high water and beach geometry caused erosion and rip currents.

Over the years, wooden and metal fences had surrounded the beach, attempting to bar the public from accessing it.

How much did it cost to renovate the beach?

Two years ago, Milwaukee County approved more than $700,000 for the restoration that focused on preventing drownings.

The plan was to restore the beach to its original 1989 design after an ongoing effort to reduce significant erosion and tackle rip current concerns.

At the end of 2023, the County Comptroller's Office reported that the County had budgeted $1.03 million overall for the beach rehabilitation project.

Why did it take so long to reopen the beach?

Despite earlier funding approval, construction on McKinley was completed in the summer and fall of last year.

Restoration to the original beach design included hauling in 11,000 cubic yards of new sand, grading and rehabilitation.

Now, the beach’s water depth is back to its intended 2 to 2½ feet. This is far lower than the roughly 6 1/2 feet that was reached at times, according to Sarah Toomsen, manager of planning and development at Milwaukee County Parks.

The project faced a setback last spring when the cost estimates for construction came back higher than what had been initially projected.

While the beach was expected to open last summer, its reopening had been further delayed by permitting problems, according to a district newsletter sent out by County Board Supervisor Sheldon A. Wasserman, whose district includes the beach, last year.

Struggles with lifeguard numbers

Even with increased safety measures with the redesign, McKinley might not be heavily lifeguarded.

As of mid-May, Milwaukee County still has yet to announce the official lifeguard tally for the 2024 summer season.

Dwindling recruitment numbers in recent years have affected which beaches, pools and splash pads have been staffed countywide.

This year, however, the County's Park Department is expecting to have 110 lifeguards for the season, which is a 10% increase in lifeguards compared to last year.

Contact Vanessa Swales at 414-308-5881 or vswales@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @Vanessa_Swales.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Closed since 2020, McKinley Beach is reopening for Memorial Day