Lighthouse Landing Park, Evanston, IL

Lighthouse Landing Park sits along the Evanston lakefront at the northern end of Sheridan Road, where a wide lawn meets the water’s edge. The park’s 1,000-foot concrete path runs parallel to the shoreline, giving residents a direct route for walking, jogging, or cycling without crossing streets. A fenced playground with rubber surfacing and climbing structures occupies the southern end, while two tennis courts and a basketball half-court sit on the northern side. Picnic tables and grills are scattered under mature cottonwood trees that provide shade in summer. The park’s breakwater creates a small protected cove where kayakers and paddleboarders launch; a wooden dock extends 150 feet into the water for fishing or simply watching boats pass. From the lawn, residents have an unobstructed view of the Chicago skyline to the south. Public restrooms, drinking fountains, and a 60-space parking lot are located on the park’s western edge, adjacent to the bike path that continues north into Wilmette and south toward downtown Evanston.