Call to action! Send letters to elected representatives about the future of Promontory Point
1. Send or customize this letter to thank representatives for supporting the community in its effort to retain and repair the existing limestone block revetment
2. Send or customize this letter encouraging other elected representatives to support community input into any design and construction at Promontory Point
2. Send or customize this letter encouraging other elected representatives to support community input into any design and construction at Promontory Point
Join a community meetings so you can tell us what you want at the Point!
You have choices and a voice in the design that will be used. We will be sharing our Alternatives Design Study and its preservation alternatives to demolition and replacement with concrete. Come learn about these viable and econmical design alternatives, and share your own ideas about the future of the Point. Join us at the community meetings happening around the neighborhood. All are welcome.
February 18, 2025, 6:30pm, Ancona School, 4770 S Dorchester Ave
March 6, 2025, 7:30pm, Vista Homes, 5840 S Stony Island Blvd
March 19, 2025, 6:30pm, University of Chicago, Community Meeting Room, 6021 S Kimbark Ave
April 8, 2025, 7:30pm, virtual meeting. Subscribe to our newsletter below for details and the zoom link.
February 18, 2025, 6:30pm, Ancona School, 4770 S Dorchester Ave
March 6, 2025, 7:30pm, Vista Homes, 5840 S Stony Island Blvd
March 19, 2025, 6:30pm, University of Chicago, Community Meeting Room, 6021 S Kimbark Ave
April 8, 2025, 7:30pm, virtual meeting. Subscribe to our newsletter below for details and the zoom link.
Promontory Point Conservancy announces new structural and coastal engineering studies that marry preservation and coastal resilience for Promontory Point’s limestone revetment
Promontory Point Conservancy, McLaren Engineering Group, and Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates are pleased to announce the results of four structural, coastal engineering studies concerning the future of Chicago’s Promontory Point. These include three engineering studies and an historic structure report, all demonstrating that a preservation-based approach to repairing the Point’s iconic stepped limestone revetment and promenade easily meets storm damage and coastal resilience requirements and is economical for construction and maintenance.
These engineering studies prove that the existing limestone block revetment :
These engineering studies prove that the existing limestone block revetment :
- has not failed and functions in good -- at worst satisfactory -- condition for storm damage and shoreline protection right now;
- can be retained and repaired economically to meet coastal resilience requirements;
- has an array of engineering design options that marry preservation AND shoreline protection; and
- if repaired and maintained, has another 100 years of service
The Coastal Vulnerability Analysis (January 2025) , Alternatives Design Study (January 2025) and the Condition Study (April 2024) were conducted by the McLaren Engineering Group (McLaren), an industry-leading engineering firm with extensive expertise in assessing waterfront structures. An additional Historic Structure Report, by Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates (WJE) corroborates McLaren’s engineering studies and confirms the feasibility of the preservation-based approach required by federal regulations for all design and construction at the Point. Read more about these engineering reports and their findings here.
These four incontestable studies prove that demolition and a new concrete revetment, as intended by USACE, CDOT and Chicago Park District (CPD), are wholly unnecessary and more expensive than repair and rehabilitation of the existing structure. Yes, the agencies can destroy it but they don't have to!
These four studies also emphasize the need for genuine, interactive public input into any design and construction at the Point, a stark contrast to the top-down, non-transparent efforts of USACE, CDOT and CPD. The Conservancy once again invites these agencies to collaborate with the community and their elected representatives to develop a solution suiting the interests and needs of all. Preserving the limestone is preserving the community that has gathered at the Point for decades.
These four incontestable studies prove that demolition and a new concrete revetment, as intended by USACE, CDOT and Chicago Park District (CPD), are wholly unnecessary and more expensive than repair and rehabilitation of the existing structure. Yes, the agencies can destroy it but they don't have to!
These four studies also emphasize the need for genuine, interactive public input into any design and construction at the Point, a stark contrast to the top-down, non-transparent efforts of USACE, CDOT and CPD. The Conservancy once again invites these agencies to collaborate with the community and their elected representatives to develop a solution suiting the interests and needs of all. Preserving the limestone is preserving the community that has gathered at the Point for decades.
It's time to listen to the community and let the community lead: this is what we've been saying we want for 25 years
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The community is the Point: preserving the historic limestone revetment preserves the community that has gathered at the Point for decades.

- Multiple designs for universal access upgrades and ADA compliance at three locations meet Secretary of the Interior rehabilitation standards and retain the historic fabric of the existing structure, determines both the Alternatives Design Study and the Historic Structure Report, released January 2025.
This is what the U.S. Army Corps, the City and the Chicago Park District want for Promontory Point. It's not what we want.
USACE publicly states on its official project webpage for the Promontory Point Project: "The original shoreline structures, built in the early 1900s, have deteriorated and no longer function to protect against storms, flooking and erosion. This project will replace existing infrastructure and construct new structures to protect the shoreline and critical infrastructure." Of course, these foregone conclusions contradict the findings of McLaren's Condition Study, Coastal Vulnerability Study and Alternatives Design Study, and WJE's Historic Structure Report. This statement is also illegal because the Point is on the National Register of Historic Places and a designated Chicago Landmark.
As of December 10, 2024, USACE, CDOT and the Chicago Park District have succesfully raised the construction authorization for Promontory Point and Morgan Shoal to $149m. The funding authorization itself was removed from the contingency passed to keep the government running and appears to be in the FY2025 federal budget awaiting passage in March 2025. The City is fully funded for design and its share of construction, and awaits the federal portion for construction.
As of December 10, 2024, USACE, CDOT and the Chicago Park District have succesfully raised the construction authorization for Promontory Point and Morgan Shoal to $149m. The funding authorization itself was removed from the contingency passed to keep the government running and appears to be in the FY2025 federal budget awaiting passage in March 2025. The City is fully funded for design and its share of construction, and awaits the federal portion for construction.
Watch CDOT's "preferred solution" for the Point's limestone revetment (18 seconds. 2022). On its official project webpage, CDOT states: "the preferred design of the revetment is . . . concrete steps and promenade to replace the existing stones. This design maintains safe access to the shoreline while preserving its historic and aesthetic value".
This is not legal, genuine preservation as USACE, CDOT and CPD now say they are committed to carrying out at Promontory Point. CDOT and CPD’s public statements commit only to “repurposing", “saving and reusing as much of the existing limestone as possible”. "Replacement", "repurposing" and “reusing" are NOT Secretary of the Interior preservation standards.
Right above: This USACE engineering drawing shows a two-step concrete revetment and concrete platform replacing the limestone block structure. Two rows of limestone blocks are "repurposed" in the parkland as a wall between the park and the revetment. This design constitutes replacement and does not meet the Secretary of the Interior standards for retaining the historic materials and limestone block structure.
Left above: This rendering visualizes a two-step concrete revetment with limestone cladding and a concrete platform. CDOT and CPD want this concrete platform for bikes, scooters and joggers, displacing sunbathers, swimmers, meditators and prayer groups. USACE and CDOT believe that the public cannot tell the difference between the existing limestone block structure and a concrete revetment with limestone veneer.
Left above: This rendering visualizes a two-step concrete revetment with limestone cladding and a concrete platform. CDOT and CPD want this concrete platform for bikes, scooters and joggers, displacing sunbathers, swimmers, meditators and prayer groups. USACE and CDOT believe that the public cannot tell the difference between the existing limestone block structure and a concrete revetment with limestone veneer.

Promontory Point: now a Chicago Landmark! The Chicago City Council voted Promontory Point a Chicago Landmark on April 19, 2023! Read the 537 letters of support from Point lovers here. Read the Chicago Landmark Designation Report here. Promontory Point was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 19, 2018.
Historian Bill Swislow maps the 500 carvings on the limestone revetment at Promontory Point that you can walk yourself. The 6-page map is downloadable and printable as well as interactive. Read Bill's statement about these carvings and their unique history
The conflict between what the community wants and the USACE, CDOT and CPD plan for demolition and replacement with concrete is succinctly presented in this video here (4:14) by Hans Friedl.
Photo credit: Tim Murphy
Questions about an event, swimming buoys or donations for a bench?
From what the Conservancy understands from the Chicago Park District, you do not need a permit for a gathering at Promontory Point unless it:
For inquiries about a dedicated memorial bench at the Point, contact the Chicago Parks Foundation: For missing swim buoys, park damage, parked cars, locked bathrooms during park hours, safety concerns, maintenance issues or other problems in the park, contact the Chicago Park District directly
- includes more than 40 people;
- uses a sound amplification system; and/or
- serves alcohol
For inquiries about a dedicated memorial bench at the Point, contact the Chicago Parks Foundation: For missing swim buoys, park damage, parked cars, locked bathrooms during park hours, safety concerns, maintenance issues or other problems in the park, contact the Chicago Park District directly