By: Cecilia Thyen

This past weekend Chicago saw giant waves on Lake Michigan. According to the Army Corps of Engineers, they will only get worse. With record high water levels and powerful winds pushing in from the east, waves reached up to a reported 12 feet tall, almost unheard of for Lake Michigan. “I drove down Lake Shore Drive on Saturday and it was scary how big the waves were,” stated Lauren Ehlers, ‘20. The waves were crashing onto the beaches and even reached the median of Lakeshore Drive near Oak Street Beach, also known as “The Ledge.. Record breaking water levels have recently been reported and with increasing severity of weather, they will continue to rise. These occurrences are causing Chicago’s beloved shoreline to shrink. “My favorite thing to do in the summer is to go to the beach with my friends. I really hope I will still be able to do that for a long time,” said Cori Mendez, ‘21. 

Shoreline recession and erosion is a very pressing issue in Chicago, but it is failing to get the attention it deserves. “I love riding my bike along the lakefront path. Climate change is speeding up the deterioration of the shoreline and it is a shame that there is nothing being done about it,” noted Hyla Carr, ‘22. Lakefront trails were destroyed with broken concrete piled up and beaches have disappeared into the lake. Crews are working to repair the damage of the waves. Whitney Young students love Chicago’s lakefront, let’s hope it does not disappear!