Swimmers were dealt some disappointment for another day as several Chicago-area beaches remained shut down due to high bacteria levels ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.
Veterans Park Beach in McHenry County was closed due to “high bacteria levels,” as were at least four beaches in Lake County: Bangs Lake, Erker Park Beach, Stanton Bay Park and Pistagua Heights along Lake Matthew, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
On Tuesday, elevated levels of Enterococci bacteria led “yellow” flag conditions to be implemented at four Chicago beaches.
A “yellow flag” means that swimming is allowed, but caution is advised. All four beaches
By Thursday, conditions had subsided and swimming was once again permitted at all four beaches: Marion Mahony Griffin Beach, Leone Beach and Loyola Beach in the Rogers Park neighborhood, along with Margaret T. Burroughs Beach in Prairie Shores.
Thinking about going swimming for the holiday weekend – but want to make sure your beach is open before heading out the door?
You can check to see if a beach is closed on the IDPH website’s “Beach Guard” system to see suburban beaches closed. In Chicago, the Chicago Park District posts swim conditions for all of the city’s beaches each day at 11 a.m.