Promontory Point's iconic limestone steps still protect lakefront, can be preserved, studies say

Tuesday, January 14, 2025 11:34PM
Promontory Point's limestone steps still protect lakefront: report
Chicago Promontory Point's iconic limestone steps protect the Lake Michigan shoreline and can be preserved, reports say.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Officials announced a big step in the grassroots effort to preserve Promontory Point's iconic limestone steps on Chicago's South Side Tuesday.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

The Promontory Point Conservancy, located in Burnham Park, released new engineering studies on Tuesday and a structure report.

The reports detail plans on how best to preserve the Point's limestone block, stepped stone, revetment and promenade.

"The cheap thing, the easy thing, is lift up those blocks, replace the fill and then make sure with wonderful new materials, like geotextiles, that your edge along the lakefront is not so permeable to wave tide," said Debra Hammond, Promontory Point Conservancy treasurer.

The Point is a park just north of 57th Street Beach.

Reports found the iconic limestone is still protecting the lakefront, and can be preserved, even though the blocks are sinking.

"All three reports agree the limestone has not failed, and can be retained and repaired," said Jorge Sanchez, Promontory Point Conservancy vice president. "Preserving the limestone is preserving a community that has gathered at the Point for decades. Listen to the community; let the community lead."

Advocates hope this would prevent future rehab to the Point that would destroy the iconic limestone and replace it with concrete that now lines most of the city's shoreline.

"The Point has not failed. Our government has failed us," former Alderwoman Leslie Hairston said.

Springfield recently passed a resolution in support of community preservation.

State Sen. Robert Peters sponsored it, saying the Point is a vital part of the community.

"This is about political will," Peters said. "It's cheaper, and it's easier."

The group will now take the preservation plans to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Chicago Department of Transportation and Chicago Park District in hopes that the city will use the conservancy's designs.

"We do have to choose between conserving Promontory Point and having a secure shoreline," Friends of the Park Interim Executive Director Gin Kilgore said.

Residents like Charles Kyle recall modern times and memories at the historic Point.

"Getting out of school for half day and instead of going home, going to the Point, going to the beach, it was a really good time," Kyle said.

RELATED: Great Lakes shorelines eroded, washed away after years of high water levels

The project manager with the Army Corp of Engineers said they will use Conservancy reports as input in their design. They said the plan to use concrete was scrapped years ago.

Both the Park District and the Chicago Department of Transportation say all three agencies involved are committed to saving and reusing as much of the Point's existing limestone as possible.

The Conservancy will have six public meetings over the next six weeks for residents to share what they want to see at the Point.

The Army Corp of Engineers project manager says they will include those comments as input for their design, as well.

But any work on the Point is at least two years away.

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.