Centennial Beach Will Not Reopen For 2020 Season

NAPERVILLE, IL — Naperville's Centennial Beach won't be opening for the 2020 season after all, according to an update from the Naperville Park District. The park district made the announcement Tuesday, writing that the DuPage County Health Department will not issue a permit for the park to operate during phase 3 of Gov. J.B. Pritzker's Restore Illinois plan. The park district also cited the fact that public health officials have not given for swimming facilities during phase 4 as another reason the beach won't reopen this summer.

Naperville Park District Executive Director Ray McGury said in a statement, "We really hoped to be able to offer swimming at some level this summer at Centennial Beach, but unfortunately we are unable to do so."

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In the update, park district officials said they had been waiting for guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Pritzker's office before moving forward with training staff, filling the beach with water and other steps that come with opening the beach. Per the IDPH's swimming facility guidelines, pools and other licensed swimming facilities can open in phase 3, but Centennial beach is considered a beach and as such cannot reopen during phase 3.

Those residents who bought season passes will get a refund, park district officials said in the update. Group fitness classes, including outdoor beach yoga, will still be held in the park's grass and sand areas.

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