January 11, 2025
Local News

Crystal Lake closes West Beach for rest of summer, Main Beach remains closed

Main Beach could open as early as July

By ALEX KANTECKI

Crystal Lake's West Beach is closed for the summer and Main Beach is on hold until further notice. (Shaw Media)

The Crystal Lake Park District announced Thursday that Crystal Lake’s West Beach will be closed for the rest of the summer and the opening of Main Beach is on hold until further notice.

CLPD Executive Director Jason Herbster wrote that Main Beach could open as soon as early July in Phase 4 of Gov. JB Pritzker’s Restore Illinois plan. Main Beach Park is open, but the beach and playground areas are closed and fenced off.

Boat rentals will be available in the near future, and boat launches are open for those with boat launch gate keys.

Herbster announced changes to summer camps and programs. The CLPD currently is working to create alternate camps that can operate within the state’s guidelines. During Phase 3 of Pritzker’s plan, Herbster wrote that summer camps can open by using approved IDPH safety guidelines, gathering in groups of 10 or fewer and keeping social distancing guidelines in place.

“Locations, staffing, activities and timelines are still being developed to determine if camps of this nature are possible,” Herbster said. The earliest start of alternate camps would be early July.

Regular summer program offerings can be found in the CLPD digital brochure at crystallakeparks.org, starting Friday. Herbster listed the Racket Club, Nature Center and Golf Learning Center as facilities that could begin to open soon.

“Please know that we are closely monitoring the situation daily,” Herbster wrote. “We are working hard to be able to bring you the summer programs we all enjoy given the major changes to our operations due to COVID-19. The value recreation provides a community is beneficial to one’s quality of life and even more so during this challenge.

“The Crystal Lake Park District’s ability to deliver services as usual is not possible. As the Crystal Lake Park District navigates through the COVID-19 situation, we greatly appreciate the community’s continued patience. Be safe, be well and please enjoy your parks, trails and services that are available!!”