The community has made its voice clear. Here’s what we want:

• maximum historic limestone breakwater block structure: retain and repair-in-place per Secretary of the Interior Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and the Guidelines for the Treatment of Cultural Landscapes
• a sustainable, ecological solution, which concrete is not. That means no demolition, no clear-cutting of trees in the parkland, and no long-term park closures
• creative, innovative, safe, and generous Universal Design Access for better ADA compliance and access for all to the revetment and the water
• genuine community input into the design and construction necessary at the Point

New structural and coastal engineering studies are available that marry preservation and coastal resilience

In early 2025, Promontory Point Conservancy, McLaren Engineering Group, and Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates announced the results of four coastal engineering studies concerning the future of the Point. These neutral, third-party studies conclusively demonstrate that, contrary to the claims of City agencies, the Point's limestone revetment has not failed and can be fixed and repaired to meet storm damage and shoreline protection requirements without replacement with new construction. Not only is it feasible to fix it, it’s far less expensive than the USACE and CDOT’s plan. Check it out. Watch this video to see how it all works.
​
What do these engineering studies tell us about preservation at the Point? It’s simple. The studies showed beyond a doubt that our current limestone breakwater block revetment:

• has NOT failed
• functions well right now for storm damage and shoreline protection
• can be retained, repaired and rehabilitated to meet both preservation standards AND exceed coastal resilience and erosion requirements
• can be rehabilitated in 11 months in separate sections to keep as much as 80% of the park open to the public at any one time
• does not require clear-cutting all the trees along the perimeter of the limestone and meadow
• can be adapted to include Universal Design Access (ADA compliance) in three different places
• can be repaired and rehabilitated at half the cost of demolition and replacement with new construction
• has an exponentially longer service life than USACE/CDOT’s plan for a concrete revetment with limestone cladding
• Will last for another hundred years with some maintenance

Ultimately, these four studies are incontestable in their proof that demolition and a newly constructed revetment, as intended by USACE, CDOT and the Park District, is wholly unnecessary and exorbitantly more expensive than preservation-based alternatives. You can find copies of each study here:

• Alternatives Design Study, factsheet and cost-comparison examples
• Coastal Vulnerability Analysis and factsheet
• Historic Structure Report and factsheet
• Condition Study and factsheet

​These four studies also emphasize the need for genuine, interactive public input into design and construction at the Point, a stark contrast to the top-down, opaque efforts of USACE, CDOT and CPkD. The Conservancy has extended an open, running invitation to 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.  Community input is on the record: check out the FAQs from the ten community meetings held in early 2025, with answers from the coastal and structural engineers themselves.​

Increasing access for all

Here’s just one of several options presented by these reports for better ADA compliance and increased access for community members of all abilities. See this drawing from the last Save the Point effort, way back in 2003:

This is just one potential place where access the promenade and water can we improved. Simple ramps and long-tread, low-rise stairs can be easily implemented at the east end of the Point, where the current concrete platform with wave deflectors – called the coffins by most of us – forms the walkway. This simply addition adds quick and easy access to the fieldhouse restrooms and walking paths where there currently is none. Similar access option are available at the north most section of the Point and the south most near 57th Street Beach.

Other important resources:
Answers to your questions asked at ten community meetings, January - April 2025. Our engineers and USACE provide answers to really good questions that illuminate the imporance of a preservation approach to fixing the limestone revetment at the Point.
Landmark Designation Report: Promontory Point, City of Chicago, Dept. of Planning and Development, March 9, 2023
National Register nomination report, Promontory Point, November 2017
McLaren’s credentials on U.S. Army Corps waterfront projects