Work to repair failed slopes and improve slope stability at Millard Park is anticipated to begin late summer 2022. During this time, portions of the bluff path and park will remain blocked off due to erosion on the bluff and possible unstable conditions. Due to the nature of construction, the park roadway access and parking may be temporarily closed at times. Please follow detour signs for available paths through the park.
Millard Park and Beach is one of four lakefront properties owned by the Park District and is maintained as a passive natural area with minimal recreation amenities. Access through the park begins along a rustic path that runs across the western portion and middle of the park, passing both through and around a historic garden. Another trail runs along the east edge of the park, along the bluff. All paths unite to a single route along the northern half and lead to a gazebo structure. Overall, the park encompasses about 1,300 linear feet of bluff face ranging in height from 20 to 75 feet above the lake. The beach divides into four sections by sheet pile walls extending 70 to 150 feet long into Lake Michigan.
Over the past few years, storm and wave damage exacerbated by high lake levels have led to slope failures at the toe and top of the bluff. Based on a recommendation from the 2021 Beach Management Plan completed by SmithGroup, staff received Board direction to select a firm to provide a geotechnical study of the bluff and recommendations for future treatment. V3 Companies conducted a Slope Stability Analysis and recommended strategies for ensuring safety and long-term preservation of the bluff in keeping with its natural character and use as a passive park and beach. That report was delivered in July 2021 and presented to the Park Board of Commissioners on August 24, 2021. On September 30, 2021, staff received direction to develop a bid document for recommended remediation. This work may include:
Site work began in Fall 2022.
Seeds and plants have been established well throughout the summer growing season. Staff plans to move fencing back at the north end of the upper park to open access to the gazebo. Fencing will remain on the edge of the bluff to continue to allow for the top-of-slope vegetative establishment and will be re-evaluated in the Spring.
Native seeds and plants installed on the bluff last growing season have established well in several zones throughout the project area. In late May, staff and volunteers installed plants and moved the fence closer to the bluff’s edge to allow visitors more access in the upper park. Staff will continue to assess the site on a weekly basis, with the goal to reopen the northern section of the upper park closest to the gazebo in the next month.
Grading work is now complete on the bluff. Native seeds and plants have been installed on the bluff; these deeply rooted plants will help in the re-establishment of the bluff’s native plant communities in the three grading zones. Additionally, a buffer of native seed was installed along the top of the bluff, and grass seed was installed in the upper park. This area will remain fenced off to allow the plants to establish.
Grading work is set to begin this week to create a more stable slope and upper park. There may be closures to the beach parking lot to allow safe movement of construction equipment.
Historic lake bluff and beach species such as White Cedar, Common Juniper, Serviceberry and Staghorn Sumac stand out now in the restoration areas.
Tree work is nearly complete and the next phase of work, grading of the bluff to create a more stable slope, is set to begin. There may be closures to the beach parking lot to allow safe movement of construction equipment as we make this transition.
Tree work continues this week. Frozen ground conditions are helping to protect the sensitive bluff areas.
Tree removals to protect the Millard Park lake bluff from further erosion are scheduled to begin the week of December 5. During this time there may be construction traffic on the west access road leading to the top of the park and there may be path closures. The work is expected to take 2 to 3 weeks but will depend on suitable weather conditions to avoid damaging the sensitive lake bluff.
When large trees fall due to storms or other natural causes, major damage can occur as they tear away soil and underlying clay. By proactively removing at-risk trees on the slope and installing native plants and shrubs, we hope to stabilize the bluff. For more information, contact Rebecca Grill at [email protected].
Restoration to the lake bluff at Millard Park has begun with the re-routing of park pathways by Parks crews. New connections will allow visitors to walk in the popular upper park at most times during this project. The first construction phase is anticipated to start in November and continue through the winter and early spring of 2023.
Park District crews have begun to reroute portions of the Millard Park pathway to prepare for the Bluff Restoration project. Some of these temporary paths will eventually become permanent. This is due to the need to move paths away from the bluff edge to protect from future erosion.
On September 28, 2022, the Park District Board of Commissioners approved the award of 2022-2023 Millard Bluff Grading and Tree Removal project in the base amount of $319,300. The contractor, RES Environmental Operating Company LLC, is expected to begin work in the coming weeks.
Priority removal of trees is along the top and base of the slope where significant slope failure is already occurring, exacerbated by uprooted trees that tear out fragile bluff soils.
A revised invitation for bid will be issued for 2022 Millard Bluff Grading and Tree Removal. Work will include grading of sheer top of bluff slopes to a stable 2:1 ratio, removal of trees to promote soil stability and restoration of the area with native seeds and live plants.
District Staff worked with City of Highland Park Building and Forestry departments to refine the scope of work, significantly reducing the number of trees for removal and getting approval for grading and restoration plans.
With Army Corps, City Forestry and IDNR permit reviews complete, an invitation for bid was issued for 2022 Millard Bluff Tree Removal. A single bid was received and opened on January 14. Staff recommendation was to defer this work to take place under safer weather conditions and to combine tree removal with proposed grading work, therefore, no bid was accepted.
A Joint Application to the US Army Corps of Engineers to permit access to the beach has been submitted as planning for work to stabilize the bluff continues.
Staff met on-site with V3 Companies and City staff to plan a detailed topo survey of the bluff face and tree inventory.
At the Parks and Natural Areas Committee Meeting, staff presented the Millard Park project plan for 2021 and 2022 based on the bluff stabilization report by V3. Recommendations include bluff trail relocation and grading, tree removal and slope grading on the bluff, seeding and planting, repair of the concrete seawall on the beach, and ongoing monitoring. The total cost for these projects is estimated to be $313,500. The Committee provided consensus to enter into an agreement with V3 for engineering, design, survey, and permitting in the amount of $24,300.
Slope Stability Analysis presented to the Park Board by Greg Wolterstorff, V3 Companies.
V3 Slope Stability Analysis Report received.
