Palos Park Metra Station Open 24/7 As A Warming Center

PALOS PARK, IL — The Palos Park Metra Station, 123rd Street and 82nd Avenue, will be open 24/7 for the duration of frigid temperatures that are expected to linger in the area through Wednesday.

Wind chills as low as 30 degrees below zero are possible. At those wind chills, frostbite on exposed skin can happen in as little as 15 to 30 minutes, the National Weather Service said. Temperatures aren't expected to rise out of the single digits until Wednesday.

“There is heat, restrooms and coffee in the morning,” said Chief Joe Miller, of the Palos Park Police Department.

For the duration of the severe cold, residents are encouraged to use the village’s “You Are Not Alone" program. This includes well-being checks on senior citizens and other vulnerable residents by Palos Park officers.

The program is available all year long and is designed to make sure older residents are okay during extreme weather spokes and power outages. During extreme weather, police officers check several times over 24 hours on seniors. Older residents can also have well-being checks via phone with Palos Park Police Department staff.

Officers will also visit homeowners not signed up, but referred by a friend or neighbor who feels they may be struggling in the cold.

“Our officers are doing well-being checks twice a day,” Chief Miller said.