Wilson Avenue Beach Parking Lot

For over a century, Uptown has been a popular Chicago entertainment district. The neighborhood’s rich and diverse history has sparked a resurgence in recent years with new shops and restaurants opening. Lincoln Park which straddles Uptown and the lakefront have also played a role in the community’s revitalization.

The lakefront features a bicycle and running path and the beaches including Montrose Beach; a dog beach at the northern edge; Montrose Harbor; and a marina. Also located along the lakefront in Uptown is Wilson Avenue Beach which includes the Skatepark. The Chicago Park District parking lot at Wilson Avenue Beach had fallen into disrepair and was in need of a full reconstruction. Additionally, the extensive paved area was contributing to local flooding.

David Mason + Associates provided Civil Engineering services for the reconstruction of the parking lot. The project included the demolition and reconstruction of five acres of pavement, grading and drainage design; stormwater management; and landscaping. A new underground stormwater infiltration system was designed to significantly reduce stormwater runoff. By creating new landscape buffers and water quality Best Management Practices (BMPs), the number of parking spots was reduced from 585 to 520 spaces.