Gillson Park Dog Beach - Wilmette, IL
Gillson Park Dog Beach: A Dog-Friendly Gem on Lake Michigan in Wilmette, Illinois
Gillson Park Dog Beach in Wilmette, Illinois, offers stunning views of Lake Michigan where local pups can enjoy off-leash fun on the sand and by the beautiful shoreline. This dog-friendly beach is a favorite spot among residents and their pets, offering a unique opportunity for dogs to experience the beach near Chicago’s North Shore. The park is managed by the Wilmette Park District, ensuring that facilities are clean and organized for all visitors.
An annual permit is required for entrance, with different fees for residents and non-residents, and parking fees also apply. The park takes safety and cleanliness seriously, requiring vaccinations for all canine visitors and providing waste bag stations outside the beach area. Gillson Park Dog Beach is ideal for dog lovers seeking a scenic, well-maintained, and exciting off-leash experience by the lake.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are dogs allowed off-leash at this park? Yes, dogs are allowed off-leash in the designated beach area.
- Are vaccinations required for dogs? Yes, updated vaccinations (including rabies and others specified by the park district) are required for entry.
- Are poop bags or waste stations provided? Yes, poop bags and waste stations are available outside the dog beach area.
- Is there a fee or membership required to enter? Yes, a permit is required with annual fees for residents and non-residents, along with parking charges.
- Is there a swimming area or pond for dogs? Yes, the dog beach is located on Lake Michigan, allowing dogs to swim.
Reviews
You have to pay to park, use the beach, and even pay for a permit for your dog.
You have to pay to park, use the beach, and even pay for a permit for your dog.
You have to pay to park, use the beach, and even pay for a permit for your dog.
As with everything else that the Wilmette Park district controls, they go overboard with micromanagement. They want your dog to be vaccinated to the absolute hilt, even with vaccines that are not core or necessary. Rabies, of course, but they also want all of these other ones that many vets have advised us against, saying they are unnecessary. Additionally, people arrive at Gillson to go to the park, and they allow their dogs to be unleashed all the way through the park. That makes people like me, with a leashed dog, very uncomfortable. I am a resident, and we now have two dogs, but I won’t be taking them here. It’s NULL for residents for one year and NULL for non residents… Which is absurd and exclusionary. The greediness of this park district is sad.
As with everything else that the Wilmette Park district controls, they go overboard with micromanagement. They want your dog to be vaccinated to the absolute hilt, even with vaccines that are not core or necessary. Rabies, of course, but they also want all of these other ones that many vets have advised us against, saying they are unnecessary. Additionally, people arrive at Gillson to go to the park, and they allow their dogs to be unleashed all the way through the park. That makes people like me, with a leashed dog, very uncomfortable. I am a resident, and we now have two dogs, but I won’t be taking them here. It’s NULL for residents for one year and NULL for non residents… Which is absurd and exclusionary. The greediness of this park district is sad.
As with everything else that the Wilmette Park district controls, they go overboard with micromanagement. They want your dog to be vaccinated to the absolute hilt, even with vaccines that are not core or necessary. Rabies, of course, but they also want all of these other ones that many vets have advised us against, saying they are unnecessary. Additionally, people arrive at Gillson to go to the park, and they allow their dogs to be unleashed all the way through the park. That makes people like me, with a leashed dog, very uncomfortable. I am a resident, and we now have two dogs, but I won’t be taking them here. It’s NULL for residents for one year and NULL for non residents… Which is absurd and exclusionary. The greediness of this park district is sad.
Ridiculous fees (240+ for non residents) to get into what’s supposed to be a public place. You aren’t allowed to be in the water with your dog. I wouldn’t be surprised if they charged you to look at it in the future. But I suppose i shouldnt give them ideas
Ridiculous fees (240+ for non residents) to get into what’s supposed to be a public place. You aren’t allowed to be in the water with your dog. I wouldn’t be surprised if they charged you to look at it in the future. But I suppose i shouldnt give them ideas
Ridiculous fees (240+ for non residents) to get into what’s supposed to be a public place. You aren’t allowed to be in the water with your dog. I wouldn’t be surprised if they charged you to look at it in the future. But I suppose i shouldnt give them ideas
Hugos’ favorite spot. You do need tokens to enter. They provide bags outside the beach area for waste, which is nice in case you forget.