Waukegan Hires Beach Rangers to Enhance Summer Experience

The city's lakefront coordinator is building a team of 16 young ambassadors, monitors, and caretakers to welcome visitors and maintain the beach.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 3:56pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a blue beach ranger uniform shirt repeated in a tight grid pattern, capturing the iconic nature of the rangers' role in maintaining the Waukegan lakefront.The beach ranger program in Waukegan provides a team of young ambassadors to enhance the lakefront experience for visitors.Waukegan Today

Waukegan is hiring five new beach rangers to join 11 returning rangers this summer, creating a team of 16 young people who will serve as ambassadors, monitors, and caretakers for visitors to Waukegan Municipal Beach. The rangers will help guests, provide information about the beach's natural features and amenities, and assist in keeping the area clean and safe.

Why it matters

The beach ranger program was started in 2015 after the city eliminated lifeguards, with the goal of maintaining a welcoming and well-cared-for lakefront destination for residents and tourists. The rangers play a crucial role in enhancing the beach experience and preserving the natural environment.

The details

The beach rangers, who are high school and college students from the local area, will be tasked with interacting with visitors, answering questions, and informing them about features like the dunes and piping plovers. They will also monitor for potential problems and provide basic first aid until emergency responders arrive. Additionally, the rangers will help keep the beach clean by power-washing and raking.

  • The beach ranger program has been in place for 11 summers, operating from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
  • This year, the city is hiring five new rangers to complement the 11 returning rangers.

The players

Lisa May

The city's lakefront coordinator, who is responsible for hiring and overseeing the beach ranger team.

Josue Pasillas

The city's assistant director of public relations, who was the first beach ranger hired in 2015 when he was a college student.

Robert Sabonjian Jr.

The former mayor of Waukegan who eliminated lifeguards at the beach in 2010, prompting a group of residents to advocate for the creation of the beach ranger program.

Gregory Moisio

A former Waukegan alderman and school district coach and teacher who oversaw the beach's needs during the period between the elimination of lifeguards and the start of the beach ranger program.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“They're ambassadors, monitors and caretakers. They interact with visitors. They tell people where they can find things. They tell them about the dunes. They answer questions about the piping plovers.”

— Lisa May, Lakefront Coordinator

“It was also a way to make a commitment to things that are important to me, like the environment. I saw it as the role of a steward.”

— Josue Pasillas, Assistant Director of Public Relations

“They'd hire a teacher and some kids to help take care of the beach.”

— Gregory Moisio, Former Alderman and School District Coach/Teacher

What’s next

As the summer season approaches, the city will continue to finalize the beach ranger team and prepare for the opening of Alchemy Beach, a new designated area near the Stiner Pavilion where a variety of beverages, including alcoholic drinks, will be available.

The takeaway

The beach ranger program in Waukegan demonstrates how a community can come together to maintain and enhance a valuable public resource like the lakefront, even in the face of budget cuts. The rangers serve as ambassadors, monitors, and caretakers, helping to create a welcoming and well-cared-for environment for visitors.