As Fox River Recedes, Towne Park Reopens

ALGONQUIN, IL -- A popular downtown park has reopened several days after floodwaters soaked the location. Towne Park, at 100 Jefferson Street, opened on Monday for public use, according to a village of Algonquin Facebook post. The closure of Towne Park came after floodwaters from the Fox River rose to record levels in downtown Algonquin in recent weeks.

The closure also meant this year's Algonquin's Founders' Days initially was forced to move to Algonquin Lakes. The festival committee later decided to cancel the festival altogether.

• Canceled Due to Flooding: Algonquin Founders' Days Festival
• Flooding Forces Algonquin Founders' Days To Switch Locations

Meanwhile, a flood warning for the Fox River remains in effect through 1 a.m. on Aug. 3. As of Tuesday morning, the river had fallen to 10.1 feet. Flood stage is 9.5 feet. The river is expected to fall below flood stage by Wednesday evening. There is a chance for rain and thunderstorms Wednesday afternoon and night. Rain is also possible Thursday through Monday.

But even as the river recedes, the following parks and roadways still remain closed:

Street Closures

• Beach Drive (east of Rattray Drive)
• Center Street
• Filip Street
• Fox River Drive
• Jayne Street
• La Fox River Drive (from Washington Street to Cornish Park)
• Willow Street

Park Closures

• Cornish Park
• Riverfront Park

For safety purposes, the public is advised to avoid these areas.

The village of Algonquin also provided the following tips and information on resources on its website for those affected by flooding:

Floodwater Safety

With the water levels beginning to drop, the village is asking that residents be reminded that flood waters can contain dangerous contaminants, and can move at a very swift rate. Staying away from, and out of, flood waters, creeks, detention areas, and the Fox River.

Supplies Available

Flood cleanup kits supplied by the American Red Cross. are available for flood victims at the Public Works Facility. You may also contact the American Red Cross at 847-220-7495 for flood cleanup kits.

Disposal of Flood-Related Debris

Recovery from flood damage may require demolition and/or construction. Residents may contact licensed removal contractors to provide construction and demolition. For a special waste collection or to rent a roll-off container, residents are able to contact Groot at 800-244-1977 or an alternative waste removal company.

Residents are responsible for costs associated with these services.

Notifications of the process for the village’s sand bag recovery effort have been distributed and the process started in impacted areas the week of July 31.

Volunteer Opportunities

Additional volunteering opportunities may be found at www.volunteercentermchenrycounty.org.

Damage Assessment

Disaster recovery is a multi-step process starting with an initial damage assessment, which is now underway and will continue despite the additional rain and possibility of increased flooding. Multiple teams will be active in affected areas in the coming days, assessing damage to homes and neighborhoods. For your safety, residents are encouraged to request proof of the damage assessors' credentials. If in doubt, please contact the Police Department to assist with validation. Flood damage should be reported online for either McHenry County or Kane County.

Donations

For residents and businesses who want to contribute to relief, cleanup and recovery efforts, the Village of Algonquin is unable to accept donations at this time. Several not-for-profit agencies – the Salvation Army, Red Cross of Chicago and Northern Illinois, Team Rubicon, United Way, Samaritan’s Purse - currently working in affected areas welcome donations. Donors are advised to be cautious when making contributions, verify that the organization is legitimate, and to be wary of door-to-door solicitations or those made over social media and through email.

Residents with questions regarding the flooding event and most current forecasts may visit the village website or connect with the Village on social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Nextdoor, Nixle).