The City of Racine Public Health Department has released the 2026 North and Zoo Beach Report Card, summarizing the water quality monitoring and environmental data from 2020 through 2025 to provide residents a clear, accessible picture of beach health. The Beach Report Card translates complex environmental information into community-friendly insights that help residents understand long-term trends and take meaningful action. The 2024 North and Zoo Beach Report Card is available at: https://bit.ly/4t7Qkom
Racine’s North and Zoo Beaches welcome an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 visitors each year. Nationally recognized for their scenic beauty, gentle waters, and clean sandy shoreline, the beaches support swimming, community gatherings, and outdoor recreation within an ecologically significant Great Lakes landscape. Prioritizing the health of the Racine beaches is important for Racine’s quality of life and local economy.
“North and Zoo Beaches earned a B grade for water quality and are some of Racine’s most valuable public spaces,” said Adrian “AJ” Koski, Grant Coordinator/Research Assistant. “But the dunes and natural areas that help keep the water clean are disappearing, and that affects everyone who visits.”
North and Zoo Beaches are ecologically significant, designated as natural areas of local importance by the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, the dunes and wetlands support diverse wildlife and act as natural defenses against wave action and erosion. Because this level of biodiversity is both rare and at growing risk, ongoing protection is critical to preserving the health of the beaches and the broader Lake Michigan ecosystem.
The Report Card provides recommendations for decision-makers and the public to help maintain and improve beach health. Priorities for policymakers include protecting public health and water quality, strengthening shoreline resilience and habitat, and supporting long-term stewardship and community engagement. Recommended community actions include picking up litter, avoiding feeding gulls and geese, reducing fertilizer and pesticide use near storm drains, joining beach clean-ups, and leaving pets at home, because dogs are not allowed at North or Zoo Beaches. “What leaves your street, yard, and driveway eventually reaches Lake Michigan,” Koski added. “Picking up pet waste, planting native plants, and reducing hard surfaces at home are direct contributions to cleaner water at the beach. Protecting these beaches is something the city and the community have to do together.” These steps support safe recreation, cleaner water, and long-term ecological stability.
“This report card turns years of monitoring data into something anyone can use,” said Dottie-Kay Bowersox, Public Health Administrator, “It shows that these challenges are connected. Dunes, stormwater, wildlife, and climate all influence beach health, and the right actions can address many of them at once.”
The City of Racine Public Health Department encourages residents to explore the full report card and learn about steps they can take to help maintain and improve water quality. For more information about the City of Racine Public Health Department, visit www.cityofracinewi.gov/health/.
