Crystal Lake, Cary: Will Playgrounds, Beaches Open In Phase 4?

CRYSTAL LAKE AND CARY, IL — Area park districts are waiting on word from the state on how to safely reopen beaches and whether playgrounds and splash pads will be back up and running this summer. On Monday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker's office released more information regarding Phase 4 of its reopening plan, stating that Illinois was on track to enter that phase on Friday.

Jenny Leach, marketing manager for the Crystal Lake Park District, said she's been waiting on approval from the Illinois Department of Health and governor's office on next steps. As of Tuesday morning, Leach said more information and approval from the IDPH was need to reboot Main Beach 's operations. The park district is not planning to reopen West Beach in Lakewood this summer.

"We hope to announce an opening date (for Main Beach) in the next day or so," said Leach on Tuesday. She said staff has been called back and park district officials have scheduled training "in hopes that the IDPH will grant approval."

And while parks and open areas have remained open in town amid concerns over slowing the spread of the new coronavirus, playgrounds shut down. Leach says "it is anticipated" playgrounds and splash pads will be able to open in Phase 4, but the Crystal Lake Park District is waiting on final approval.

In Cary, park district officials are also waiting on more guidance from the state.

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Meanwhile, there is no official word on whether the beach and other amenities at Three Oaks Recreation Area will open for the summer. Currently, the park and Three Oaks trails are open and the popular summer spot is not charging for parking—typically, non-residents have to pay. The boathouse and marina is also open and the Three Oaks is renting out boats and stand-up paddle boards.

Those renting boats should wear a mask and practice social distancing, according to Three Oaks Facebook page. Three Oaks is open from 6:30 a.m. to sunset daily.

Three Oaks, which is run by the city of Crystal Lake, is waiting on IDPH guidance and direction before making any announcements on whether additional amenities will be opening, Eric Helm, deputy city manager for the city of Crystal Lake, told Patch.

Cary's Community Center Pool Preps To Open

In Cary, park district officials recently announced staff at Community Center Pool is prepping for opening. But the park district also has not yet received official guidelines from IDPH on how to reopen in Phase 4, Katie Hughes, director of communications and marketing for the Cary Park District told Patch in an e-mail response.

An opening date for the pool is not yet known. Hughes said residents shouldn't expect the pool to reopen before mid-July.

And like other area park districts, Cary's park district is waiting on word from the state on whether playgrounds and splash pads can reopen. In Cary, the Kaper Park splash pad just opened last summer — following the replacement of the Timbertown playground at the park.

"The status of the Kaper Park splashpad opening this summer is still to be determined," Hughes said.

Other Park District Offerings

In Phase 4, some other offerings will be available through area park districts.

The Crystal Lake Park District Nature Center, at 330 N. Main Street, will open on July 1 and the Colonel Palmer House, 660 E. Terra Cotta Avenue, is slated to reopen on July 11. Museums are able to open in Phase 4 of Pritzker's plan at reduced capacity. The Lippold Family Golf Center is currently open.

Also, this summer, the park district's Nature Center naturalists are heading out to neighborhood parks each week this summer to offer a Pop Up Park Explorer program. The park district will post these locations via Facebook the day before the program.

Leach says the Crystal Lake Park District plans to share more information regarding its operations in Phase 4 via e-mail newsletter, on Facebook and on its website in the coming days.

In Cary, the Hoffman Park Dog Park is open with some guidelines in place that require visitors to not congregate inside or outside the park and to practice social distancing. The Skate Park at Lions Park is also open with similar guidelines in place.

More information and updates can be found on the Cary Park District website. Residents can also sign up for park district e-mail newsletters or follow the park district on Facebook.

Patch will update with more information as it becomes available.