EVANSTON (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Evanston aldermen are considering free beach access, but the Parks Director said it would leave a $1.2 million hole in this year’s budget and is probably not legal.
Newly-elected Alderman Devon Reid wants to see an immediate end to charging Evanston residents $30 for beach passes or tokens. Non-residents pay $46.
Reid said the city has $2 million in surplus funds from last year.
"And we can use a portion of that to make the beaches accessible to every Evanston resident this summer, and end the racist policy of exclusionary, and dare I say racist policy of charging for beach access," he said.
He has placed the issue on Monday evening’s City Council agenda.
According to Evanston Now, Evanston's Director of Parks Lawrence Hemingway said there is already free access to low-income residents; and he said if Evanston residents get free access, non-residents would have to as well under the law.
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