The existing shoreline structures, built in the early 1900s, have deteriorated and no longer protect against storms, flooding, and erosion. For planning and construction purposes, these 22 miles of shoreline have been broken into six sections, called reaches. Steel sheet pile and concrete stair-step revetment at Solidarity Drive. Rubblemound revetment at Meigs Field. Steel sheet pile and concrete stair-step revetment from about 23rd to 57th streets, with beach stabilization at 31st and 39th streets.
Local sponsors are Chicago and the Chicago Park District.
A worker guides sheet piles in Lake Michigan at the 33rd to 37th Street project. The piles are going in about 20 feet from land. The Belmont Harbor Peninsula project rebuilt 1,000 linear feet of shoreline. Improvements included building stair-step revetment. The city and the park district awarded contracts for this project, which was completed in December 1999.