We hope
everyone is staying safe and healthy. While not all of our properties are
in the City of Chicago we wanted to share this announcement with everyone since
many other places are also asking for residents to practice the same
precautions. For our suburban client’s many local Park Districts have also
followed the City of Chicago and have closed lakefront access as well as
parks and playgrounds.
Please take all of these precautions seriously to protect yourself and others.
Immediate Closure of The City’s Lakefront,
Adjacent Parks, 606 & Riverwalk
As part of the City’s important Stay
Home, Save Lives initiative in response to the evolving
COVID-19 crisis.
This guidance includes urging residents to continue to practice key social
distancing techniques, shown to prevent the spread of the virus; as well as
encouraging residents to take precautions outdoors, including ensuring
that trips outdoors are brief, individual and avoiding congregate settings and
close contacts, which could further spread transmission.
In response to the excessive gatherings of people along Chicago’s Lakefront,
Riverwalk and 606 Trail this week, effective immediately, Mayor Lori E.
Lightfoot has issued an executive order closing these spaces to the public
until further notice. These measures are designed to protect the health
and safety of residents amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease
(COVID-19).
The Mayor’s order bans lakefront access to all parkland in Chicago adjoining
Lake Michigan, including walking, running and cycling paths, beaches and other
recreational facilities. This includes all of Millennium Park. To
keep these areas secured, the Chicago Park District is putting in place
barricades and other security measures pursuant to the order. Please visit
the Chicago Park District website for the full list of closures. https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/
Residents need to limit their time outside to brief walks or runs around
their immediate neighborhood. Currently, the District’s green spaces and parks
remain open, and the City will monitor park activity in the event more
closures are necessary to prevent large gatherings and congregations of people
during the stay at home order. Furthermore, the order also prohibits contact
sports, like basketball and football.
Many alternative routes will still be available to Chicago residents choosing
to walk or bike to work during this time, and residents are encouraged to visit Chicago.gov/CDOT to
view the city’s network of 248 miles of bike lanes.
While the Chicago Police Department is empowered to enforce the Mayor’s new
order through citations up to $500 and additional measures, the Department is
primarily focusing on educating residents about the new order and
providing warnings to individuals using these closed spaces.
To further ensure compliance with the order, the Department will move forward
with issuing citations if individuals don’t adhere to initial warnings from
police officers.
This virus spreads through droplets, meaning coughing and sneezing, which
is why individuals need to socially distance themselves from others and
remain at home. The City of Chicago is on track to have over 1,000
cases by the end of this week and 2,000 cases in the State of
Illinois.
ALL PLAYGROUNDS ARE CLOSED – Dog-Friendly Areas remain Open
All Playgrounds are closed without exception, even though closed signs may not be displayed everywhere yet.
Playgrounds are not clean nor can they be sanitized. The virus can last for up to several days on surfaces, and if one child picks it up and passes it along, even if the child shows no symptoms, it can spread the disease to others.
Dog-Friendly Areas remain open, but it is critical that users practice social distancing by keeping at least 6-foot distances, continue hand washing for 20 seconds and please stay home if you feel ill.
This time may be stressful for many individuals and the outdoors provide a welcome break. Emotional reactions to this emerging health crisis are expected. Remind yourself, your family, and your friends that feeling sad, anxious, overwhelmed or having other symptoms of distress such as trouble sleeping is normal. If symptoms become worse, encourage them, and yourself, to reach out for support and help. The following are free mental health resources available to all Chicago residents:
* Tips on Managing Anxiety about COVID-19
* Connect to free teletherapy services at Chicago Department of Public Health Mental Health Centers by calling 312-747-1020.
* Connect to a NAMI Chicago Helpline mental health counselor by calling 311 or directly at 833-626-4244
* Guidance
for Parents in Talking to Children about COVID-19
For up to date information and additional
resources, please visit the City’s Coronavirus Response Center website at www.chicago.gov/coronavirus, text COVID19 to
78015, or email coronavirus@chicago.gov.
Below are links to more information about the
coronavirus:
Centers for Disease Control This CDC site includes information about COVID-19 and provides travel information that might be helpful to those planning trips
Illinois Department of Public Health is another good source of information
Recent Comments