Beach Park is a village in Benton and Waukegan townships of Lake County, Illinois, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 14,249.
Geography
According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Beach Park has a total area of , all land.
Major streets
- 20px Green Bay Road
- 20px Sheridan Road
- Kenosha Road
- 21st Street
- 29th Street
- 33rd Street
- Lewis Avenue
- Wadsworth Road
- Beach Road
- Yorkhouse Road
- Blanchard Road
Illinois Beach State Park
Beach Park is the home to the South Beach section of Illinois Beach State Park, which is otherwise located in Winthrop Harbor. The beach was originally part of Camp Logan, a rifle range developed by the Illinois National Guard in 1892. In World War I and World War II it served as a rifle range for the Great Lakes Naval Training Station. The range remained in operation until 1973, when it was transferred to the Illinois Department of Conservation. In 1950, the Illinois Dunes Preservation Society was established to maintain the natural qualities of the beach. With the help of the Illinois Department of Conservation the area south of Beach Road was established as the state's first natural preserve. The northern beach, between Beach Road and the Wisconsin state border, was obtained between 1971 and 1982.
The south beach is now home of the Illinois Beach Resort and Conference Center. The North Point Marina is at the north beach. This is Illinois' newest and largest marina and the largest freshwater marina in the United States.
More than 650 species of plants have been recorded in the dunes area alone, including dozens of types of colorful wildflowers.
On May 9, 2000, the area encompassing Illinois Beach State Park and North Point Marina was officially designated as the Cullerton Complex in honor of William J. Cullerton Sr., war hero, avid environmentalist and long-time friend of conservation.