The Evanston Parks & Recreation Department is pleased to announce that the Evanston Dog Beach will officially open for the 2024 season on Friday, March 1. 

The dog beach, located just south of Clark Street Beach (1811 Sheridan Rd.), is open seasonally from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. All patrons must have a valid dog beach pass to enter.

Purchasing a Dog Beach Pass

Dog beach passes will be available in-person only beginning Monday, February 19 on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the following locations:

• Levy Senior Center, 300 Dodge Ave.
• Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center, 1655 Foster St.
• Evanston Ecology Center, 2024 McCormick Blvd.
• Chandler-Newberger Community Center, 1028 Central St.
• Robert Crown Community Center, 1801 Main St. (Dog beach passes available from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily at Robert Crown only) 

Dog beach passes are free for residents (60201 and 60202 only) and $200 (1st dog), $75 (2nd dog) for non-residents, per dog. Individuals will need to bring a completed vaccination verification form for their pet (see below).

Effective Friday, March 1, the gate code will be officially changed to a new combination number. Dog beach goers should be aware that the old 2023 combination number will no longer grant access through the gate. In the case where a 2023 pass holder attempts to enter, access will not be possible until the 2024 pass is renewed.  

More information can be found on the Dog Beach & Pooch Park website.

Requirements

Cook County ordinance requires the City to verify vaccination information before issuing a dog beach pass.

Vaccine verification

All dog owners must complete the vaccination verification form to provide:

• Proof of their pet’s current vaccinations or titers (antibodies) for Rabies, Distemper (CFV), Hepatitis (Canine Adenovirus-2), Para-influenza (CPIV), Parvovirus (CPV), Leptospirosis, and Bordetella (kennel cough)
• Proof of a negative fecal test by a veterinarian’s office for internal parasites within the last year

2024 pet license

All dogs must be licensed by the local government where the dog’s owner lives. City of Evanston pet licenses can be purchased online at cityofevanston.org/pet, by mail, or in person at the City Collector’s Office at the Morton Civic Center located at 2100 Ridge Ave between the hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Pet owners should allow up to two weeks to receive their pet license for purchases made online, and must provide a copy of their pet’s current rabies vaccination. The annual cost for a pet license is $10 if the pet is neutered or spayed and $15 if not altered. Pet licenses are not sold at Evanston community centers. 

For more information about the Evanston Dog Beach, visit cityofevanston.org/dogbeach or call/text 847-448-4311. For convenience, residents may simply dial 311 in Evanston.