After nearly a year of being closed to the public, Central Ave. Beach at Indiana Dunes National Park in Beverly Shores has been reopened. Central Ave. Beach was closed in the spring of 2020 due to severe erosion caused by high water levels in Lake Michigan.
The re-opening follows the U.S. Army Corps’ placement of 56,000 tons of sand on Central Ave. Beach. This was the Army Corps’ second sand nourishment project at Indiana Dunes National Park over the last year. The first one was completed in the fall of 2020 at the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk site.
NPS is, however, cautioning those interested in hiking down to Central Ave. Beach this winter to use caution. “Access to Central Ave. Beach is down a steep sandy slope,” NPS said. “Walking down the slope can be difficult and the return climb is quite strenuous. Individuals need to decide based on their own abilities if they are capable of the climb. After erosion from winter and spring storms concludes, park staff will be able to restore a more gradual access path down to Central Ave. Beach in time for the summer beach season.”
