Greenwood Street Beach
Evanston, IL
Greenwood Street Beach sits right next to the Dempster Street launch in Evanston, set back from busy streets so it feels calmer than most city beaches. It's a guarded swim beach in summer, and part of the city's free beach wheelchair program.
Pick Greenwood when you want Evanston sand without traffic noise; there's no big road along the beach here.
Street parking in the neighborhood.
Free beach wheelchairs are shared with Lee and Dempster beaches.
Admission is required from late May to Labor Day. Small sailboats from the Dempster launch next door make for a pretty view on windy afternoons.
More Great Lakes beaches

Sleeping Bear Dunes Beach
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Freshwater Lake Michigan surf below towering sand dunes, some over 400 feet tall, with water clear enough to rival a coastline and a hike back up the dune to burn it off.
New Buffalo City Beach
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Warren Dunes State Park
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