McKinley Beach reopens after safety improvements; 1st time since 2020
MILWAUKEE - McKinley Beach in Milwaukee reopened for the first time in four years on Wednesday, May 22.
Milwaukee County Parks closed the beach in 2020 after multiple drownings.
Derrick Roberson’s son, J'Varius Bankhead, was one of the victims. He drowned while trying to help young cousins, who were struggling in the water.
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"I miss my son," Roberson said. "When he left here, he left a legacy of having a safer beach for kids."
Rip currents and high water levels were creating deadly risks. The county hired a team of engineers to study the problem and come up with design options.
11,000 yards of cubic sand was added to the beach while it was closed, costing the county over $1 million. The goal is to control the energy coming from the waves.
"We had a problem at this beach and we needed to fix it up," County Supervisor Sheldon Wasserman said.
Erosion also painted a deceiving picture.
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McKinley Beach was first built in the 1980s. It started as a sandbar about two-and-a-half inches deep. But over time, the sand eroded and created an unexpected dropoff of about four feet. Combined with rip currents, it turned deadly.
"Today we are marking its return," Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said. "It's a safe and family-friendly destination that enhances the quality of life for all who visit."
Now the space is safer for swimmers. But those who venture into the water should remain vigilant, as there are no lifeguards at county beaches.
