You and your pooch will love this Lincoln Park favorite. Foster Beach features a beach house with concessions, bike rentals and restroom facilities. There’s also a popular dog beach at the northeast end of the park. Swimmers can distance swim from Center Tower to the north end of the beach. There’s an ADA accessible beach walk, so all are welcome at this slice of paradise.
Foster Beach History
Foster Beach is part of Lincoln Park’s landfill extension in the 1950s. Completed in 1958, the beach was part of an extension plan launched in 1947. E.V. Buchsbaum designed a beach house for the site as well, constructed between the late 1950s and early 1960s. A new beach house provided improved facilities and amenities in the 1990s.
Foster Beach Details
Today, Foster Beach is one of the most equipped beaches in the neighborhood. A pay and display parking lot makes it easy to get here via car. You can also ride public transit to the Berwyn CTA Red Line Station or take the 147 Outer Driver Express or 151 Sheridan busses.
In the park’s grassy area, you’ll find the Lead With The Heart carved wood statues. Artist Kara James created the monument as part of the Chicago Tree Project in 2014.
If you get hungry, Foster Beach offers ample concessions. There’s La Playa Concession, Prairie Cafe, and Boucher Brothers. Boucher Brothers also offers beach chair and umbrella rentals along with eats. You can also rent a bike rental at Foster Beach’s Wheel of Fun Rental and take a spin along the beach’s scenic pathways.
With restrooms and WiFi, it’s easy to spend the whole day here. You can even bring Fido to a popular dog beach at the northern end of the park. Distance swimming is also allowed from center tower to the north end of the beach, parallel to the shore at boat line. Or, access the Lake Michigan Water trail for kayaking, canoeing, or stand-up paddle boarding. Lifeguards are on duty daily from 11am to 7pm.
Visitors love to play volleyball here in sand volleyball pits. Visitors also mention you can get some of the best views of the city from this Lincoln Park beach.
Foster Beach Events
Foster Beach hosts an array of community events throughout the season. It is home to the Full Moon Jam in August and September. The family friendly monthly celebration features fire dancing, drumming, and community. After the event, there is a community cleanup, so visitors leave the beach in pristine condition.