Under clear skies at Gillson Beach on Sept. 18, neighbors gathered for a shore-side celebration befitting the last Saturday night of summer.
Wilmette Beach Bash 2021, a fundraising and friend raising event hosted by the Ouilmette Foundation in partnership with the Wilmette Park District, is meant to support area parks.
Ouilmette Foundation president Holly Gilson said funds from the annual community event will go to support, expand, and rejuvenate parks in Wilmette.
“Over this past 18 months, all of us have been reminded of how important open green spaces are. Beach Bash celebrates our freedom to engage with these spaces, and how vital it is to preserve, maintain and protect them,” Gilson said.
The Ouilmette Foundation, Gilson says, was incorporated in 1983 to raise funds to support a complete rehabilitation and restoration of the Wallace Bowl in Gillson Park. Reconstituted in 2014, the foundation has served as an independent group of residents, working to complement the work of the Wilmette Park District by enriching Wilmette parks and community.
The first Beach Bash in 2019 brought neighbors together for the opening day of the new beach house and beach facilities. The beach house was designed by Woodhouse Tinucci Architects, along with hardscaping and landscaping and lighting improvements to Gillson Park and Gillson Beach.
In 2020, the event was canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions, organizers say.
Penny Valdes of Wilmette attended Saturday with family.
“We are here to celebrate with good drinks, good food, and friends, we come to this beach all the time, Wilmette has the best beach on the North Shore,” Valdes said.
Musical entertainment was provided by Chris Karabas and Antler Chandelier. Drinks and food came from assorted restaurants and food trucks.
Preregistration was required at a ticket price of $40 per person.
Wilmette Park District executive director Steve Wilson says logistically it takes at least 40 or 50 staff, foundation board members and volunteers together to offer this large-scale event.
“It’s really a partnership and fun for us to come together to raise money for this year’s causes, among these, the Ouilmette Foundation’s Family Scholarship Fund, and the Bird Habitat at Gillson Park,” Wilson said.
Diane Bordwell attended Saturday and says she is a 30-year resident of Wilmette. Recently, her daughter moved to town with her family.
“We support the Park District they offer so much. My daughter’s husband is in the military and they are even offered a discount on all Park District programs,” Bordwell said.
After the COVID-19 year, this summer the Ouilmette Foundation made the decision to bring back Beach Bash as an annual event, a way to salute summer and say hello to fall.
“Tonight is really a celebration of our ability to come together again with friends and neighbors in a safe way in a space that we all really cherish,” Gilson said.
Gina Grillo is a freelance reporter.
