BEACH OPENINGS HERALD SUMMER SEASON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
Park District Continues Monitoring Water Quality Through Collaborative Partnerships
Release Date: 05/25/07
Make a splash with the Chicago Park District as it kicks off summer with the opening of the 2007 beach season that runs from today to Labor Day weekend, Monday, Sept. 3. Hours at all beaches are 9 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. This summer, beach goers will find a variety of amenities, from bike rentals to great concessions. Admission to Chicago’s beaches is free.
“The city’s beaches are a popular destination, especially when the weather heats up,” said Chicago Park District General Superintendent and CEO Tim Mitchell. “Ensuring safety is our top priority, and we will continue to monitor water quality through the three-tier alert system.”
The Chicago Park District recently adopted the three-tier alert system used by surrounding Lake Michigan communities to issue swim bans and inform beach goers of bacteria levels. This summer, beach visitors can call the Chicago Park District Beach Hotline at 312-74-BEACH to check the swim status at each beach.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) support the notification system that calls for a swim advisory to be issued when readings fall between 235 and 1,000, which are counts of the bacterial colonies that have formed per 100 milliliters of water. A swim ban is issued if the E.coli levels reach over 1,000. The advisory or swim ban will remain in place until bacteria levels fall below 235.
The following flag notification system tells patrons the current status of beaches:
·Green Flag – Swimming is permitted. Water is calm and quality is safe based on
current monitoring for E.coli bacteria.
·Yellow Flag – Advisory is in effect. Caution is advised. Water and weather conditions are unpredictable. Restrictions may be implemented. Increased risk of illness may be present based on current monitoring for E.coli bacteria.
·Red Flag – Swim ban in effect due to severe weather and/or water conditions, which may be hazardous. Serious risk of illness may be present based on recent monitoring for E.coli bacteria.
There are several theories on the causes of high E.coli bacteria counts in the lake water, which include high temperatures, heavy rainfall, low lake levels and gull waste.
The following initiatives are currently in place to reduce probable bacteria sources:
· Chicagoans will see the new “BigBelly” trash containers, a pilot project featuring solar powered trash compactors that support fuel conservation and decreased emissions.
·A waste recycling program providing covered recycling and waste containers along the lakefront will help minimize the food sources that attract gulls to the beaches.
·Daily maintenance includes beach combing, a procedure that collects debris and sifts through the sand, allowing the sun to bleach it.
·The gull population will be managed through the City’s Gull Damage Management Pilot Project. Wildlife Services biologists will coat gull eggs with corn oil, which limits air movement through the shell preventing the eggs from hatching. The oil will not harm adult gulls or other wildlife.
·Border collies will be at Foster Ave. Beach and 63rd Street beach this summer to help eliminate the draw of a “safe harbor” at the beach for ring-billed gulls.
The Chicago Park District has more than 100 public pools, 51 of which are outdoor pools. The following pools opened today for the season:
·Portage, 4100 N. Long Ave., 773-685-7189
· Holstein, 2200 N. Oakley Ave., 312-742-7554
·Piotrowski, 4247 W. 31st St., 312-747-6608
·Washington, 5531 S. Martin Luther King Dr., 773-256-1248
·Palmer, 201 E. 111th St., 312-747-6576
The remainder of pools open on Friday, June 15 and all are open through Monday, Sept. 3. Pool hours are generally from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m., but vary by location. Admission is free to Park District pools.
For a list of locations or for more information, visit the Park District website at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com or call the Beaches and Pools Unit at 312-742-5121.
For more information on the Chicago Park District, visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com or call 312-742-PLAY.
- Contact Phone: 312 742 7529