Sharon Woods Harbor Revitalization
Sharon Woods Harbor Revitalization
Projects at Great Parks
Sharon Woods Harbor Revitalization
Project Dates
CONSTRUCTION START: Fall 2026
CONSTRUCTION END: Spring 2028
Sharon Woods Harbor serves as a major hub of activity in one of Great Parks’ most visited destinations. Its revitalization reimagines the harbor experience to better serve guests through facility design, programming, nature exploration opportunities and more. With community input, Great Parks is creating a more vibrant and inclusive space for boating, playing, learning and gathering.
As the programmatic heart of Sharon Woods, the revitalized harbor (including the boathouse, playground, snack bar, parking and restroom amenities) supports Great Parks' goals for conservation, access, innovation and outstanding guest experiences. Design and planning are shaped by key priorities identified through the master planning process, which include: expanding access for all users, adding programming and events for diverse audiences, building ecological resiliency and strengthening partnerships.
Construction Impacts & Closures
The following are expected to have temporary closures:
- Harbor playground: February 2026
- Entry drive from Kemper Road: fall 2026 (harbor parking area still accessible from within Sharon Woods via Highbanks)
The following are closed from November 2026 through the project's completion:
- Harbor area (playground, restrooms, boathouse and parking)
- Portion of the Sharon Lake Trail passing through the harbor
Tentative Project Timeline
| DATE | ACTIVITY |
|---|---|
| Spring 2024 | Community engagement & design work begins |
| Winter/Spring 2026 | Site preparation |
| Summer 2026 | Design work completed |
| Fall 2026-Winter 2027 | Construction underway |
| Spring 2028 | Harbor area reopens |
Downloads
Contact Us
For additional questions about the project, contact Great Parks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Great Parks has started construction on the revitalization of Sharon Woods Harbor. The new harbor will offer a reimagined boathouse, plus a new terraced lakeside, play area, amphitheater, overlook, snack bar, parking and restrooms. Construction is expected to be completed in spring 2028.
Great Parks is opening a new temporary boathouse at Sharon Woods' Lakeside Lodge on the east side of Sharon Lake starting Memorial Day weekend 2026. It will remain open for the next two summers until the rebuilt permanent boathouse opens in spring 2028.
The Sharon Lake Trail will remain open through October 2026. Because the trail passes through the harbor, reconstruction of the harbor requires Great Parks to close a small section of the trail (approximately 0.18 miles) from November 2026 through the project’s completion.
Great Parks gathered extensive public input in 2024–2025, including an online survey and two open houses. The design process followed Great Parks’ commitment to Design Excellence, emphasizing community engagement, environmental responsibility and high-quality, inclusive public spaces. This approach ensures the new harbor design reflects public priorities and creates a welcoming and memorable experience for all guests.
Removal of a small number of trees was necessary to build a new entrance drive from Kemper Road and improve parking capacity. Great Parks carefully designed the entrance to minimize tree removal and will ultimately plant more trees than were removed. Minimizing tree removal is important, as about 85% of Great Parks’ land is protected as undeveloped natural space. Great Parks is timing this work to avoid the mating season of the little brown bat, which is endangered.
These are two of the largest and most complicated projects in Great Parks’ recent history, and with limited resources available, they were kept separate for budget, safety and quality reasons. While the lake was drained, Great Parks took the opportunity to perform maintenance on Kreis Dam, a $1.3 million project. This prevented the need to drain the lake again for dam work in the near future.
COST & FUNDING
Special Thanks
With public input, design, permitting, construction and reopening phases, the harbor revitalization project is anticipated to cost more than $16 million.
For its support of the project thus far, Great Parks extends sincere thanks to The James J. and Joan A. Gardner Family Foundation.
Great Parks will provide the remaining funds through its current capital project budget, additional grants and other funding sources.
The Sharon Woods Harbor Revitalization complements another major investment at Sharon Woods, the Sharon Lake Improvement Project.