South Shore Beach Rehabilitation Project (AOC)

This is a Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern Project designed to address the Beach Closings/Recreational Restrictions Beneficial Use Impairment (more details below). Please visit the Parks & the AOC and the Waterway Restoration Partnership for more information on this amazing, multi-partner effort to cleanup waterways and restore habitat across the County.

Updates

October 2025: The New South Shore Beach is open. Substantial completion has been reached. As a reminder:

Fenced areas are not open to the public - this is to protect and ensure establishment of vegetation in those areas.
Additional locations have been posted with "Restoration in Progress - Please Keep Out" signs. These are also undergoing lawn restoration.

Pease follow guidance on posted signs and enjoy Lake Michigan's waters safely.
Please help us grow - follow guidance on "Restoration in Progress" signs found throughout the Project area.

Project Background and Overview:

South Shore Beach Is one of 9 public Beaches along the Lake Michigan Shoreline in Milwaukee County, surrounded by the state’s most densely populated urban areas. Unfortunately, while beloved by the community, South Shore was regularly ranked amongst the worst beaches in the nation. As recently as 2022, it experienced 27 closures related to poor water quality! The primary culprit was E. coli - a bacteria found in the gut of humans and animals. We knew we had to find out why South Shore had such poor water quality and then determine how to address it.

The issues at the South Shore were complex - studies of the beach required thorough evaluation by a large group of partners: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Milwaukee County Parks (MCP), University of Milwaukee (UWM) School of Freshwater Sciences, consultant Baird & Associates (South Shore Beach Relocation Study) Milwaukee Riverkeeper, and many members of the Waterway Restoration Partnership (WRP). After over 12 years of comprehensive study and analysis, the probable causes of the issues were identified: localized runoff from the park and parking lot areas, excrement from gulls and waterfowl, regional storm water runoff and combined sewer overflows, and a breakwater that limits water circulation with the lake. Yikes!

McLellan Lab at the School of Freshwater Sciences (UWM) had to look at many possible factors for our persistent water quality issues.

It turned out that the best option was not to restore the existing beach, but to convert it to greenspace and turn the rocky shoreline to the south into a sandy swimming area. The existing beach and the rocky beach to the south had been monitored side-by-side for those 12 years, and the rocky beach was found to have significantly less E. coli and water quality issues. Want that data? Check out Appendix A of the Milwaukee Estuary AOC Beach Closings (Recreational Restrictions) Beneficial Use Impairment Management Action List or glance at the Milwaukee AOC Beach Remediation fact sheet from UWM.

The studies also revealed that multiple actions were needed to improve water quality and provide a healthier swimming beach. These included redesign and replacement of public access infrastructure, integration of appropriate stormwater best management practices (BMPs), and the use of features or designs that deter or reduce wildlife presence onsite. In 2018 the County hired the SmithGroup consultants to develop designs that addressed these needs – these were shared and refined through a series of public outreach and stakeholder input events into the design we have now. It also includes several enhancements based directly on public input including beach access and trail improvements, including ADA accessible paths, and amenities like a foot wash station. After a pandemic and a pause for funding, we are excited to announce that we are ready to enter into the final phase of the project - construction!

When and Where did work take place?

Work on the South Shore Beach Rehabilitation is now substantially complete, with the beach opening for use in August 2025. An official ribbon cutting to celebrate the stunning new swimming area took place on September 25, 2025.

Located in South Shore Park, in the Bay View neighborhood of Milwaukee, the South Shore Beach Rehabilitation project encompassed shoreline areas east of the Oak Leaf Trail from the location of the existing swimming beach to the southernmost extent of the area known locally as the "rocky beach".

Project Timeline:

Early 2000's - 2014: Phase 1: Planning - Assessment and analysis of water quality issues; development of report and identification of required remedies.
2015 - 2019: Phase 2: Design - Swimming area concepts and design development by consultant SmithGroup with input from community stakeholders and partners.
November 2024 - August 2025: Phase 3: Construction - Construction of new swimming beach and conversion old beach into green space will take place
2025 - 2028 Vegetative Maintenance - Contractors will continue with Landscape and Native Vegetation Maintenance for three years.

What to expect during substantial completion?

While all major construction work is complete, maintenance activities and repairs may take place that could cause temporary changes and disruption to some portions of the park.

You may notice:

Temporary trail and recreational amenity closures and detours,
Construction fencing and access limitations,
Heavy machinery and construction equipment,
Revegetation activities,
Loud noises,
Temporary decline of visual aesthetics, including potential views of construction and equipment from South Shore Terrace.

For everyone's safety, please stay on designated trails, follow posted guidance on detours and exclusions, and do not approach crews. Enjoy watching the beach transform from a distance!

Project Benefits

Enhanced recreation opportunities for the community.
Water quality improvements.
Reduction of beach closures.

Not only will this project help to enhance outdoor recreation for the community, but it is also a necessary action to help de-list the Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern. “De-listing” involves completing projects that will address issues, or Beneficial Use Impairments, which have prevented humans, fish, and wildlife from being able to fully and safely use our natural resources. The South Shore Beach Rehabilitation project will achieve this by addressing the Beach Closings/Recreational Restrictions Beneficial Use Impairment (BUI). For more information on delisting and BUIs visit Parks and the AOC.

How can I get involved and where can I learn more?

The best way to get involved is by signing up for project updates on this page! You can also sign up for the WRP Newsletter to stay up to date on all things AOC. Your input is valuable and important to all AOC Projects, we encourage you to join us at events or interact with us online!

Now that work is complete, keep an eye out for opportunities with MCP and other Waterway Restoration Partnership members. Remember, the most valuable thing you can do is to help keep our beaches clean and safe for everyone:

Do not feed birds or other wildlife.
Clean up and put all trash in trash bins.
Pick up after dogs and follow local ordinances.
Join Friends of South Shore Park, Milwaukee Riverkeeper, or another local group for volunteer workdays, water monitoring, and more.

Still looking for some more information? Check back on Parks’ website for updates (search for "Area of Concern"), or you can find additional fact sheets, videos, presentations, and project-specific answers to frequently asked questions by visiting the Waterway Restoration Partnership website.

Land and Water Acknowledgement