Signs Remind Lake Katherine Visitors To Obey Social Distancing

PALOS HEIGHTS, IL — When the weather gets warm and the quarantined come out to Lake Katherine Nature Center for some fresh air they will be greeted by lighted sign boards reminding people to practice social distancing. The signs were placed at the nature center’s by the Palos Heights Police Department.

Gov. JB Pritzker has closed playgrounds across the state to combat community spread of the deadly coronavirus, but parks and trails remain open, as long as people practice social distancing. Last week, Mayor Lori Lightfoot closed the lake front after crowds packed parks and beaches on a warm spring day.

For now, people flouting the social distancing rules at Lake Katherine as well as other parks and trails, will get a polite reminder from police. However, if it looks like crowding is becoming a problem, the city may consider fines for social distancing scofflaws.

“Palos Heights police will be enforcing social distancing,” said Deputy Chief Bill Czajkowski. “The governor has put an order down, it’s a mandate. If we get a call or if we observe it we kindly inform them of the social distancing order.”

Swallow Cliff at LaGrange and Route 83, where fitness buffs go to challenge themselves running up and down the 140 stair steps, is closed to the public until further notice. Police don’t want people to forget and let their guard down on social distancing when the weather gets warm.

“We’re hoping no one has to call,” Czajkowski said. “We’re not being authoritative. We just want to remind people to be healthy and safe, but there’s an order, and we have to abide by it.”