Chicago Park District Offers Safety Tips and Provides Park Hours of Operation for the 4th of July Holiday

The Chicago Park District prepares Chicagoans to celebrate safely in the parks on the Fourth of July holiday with tips on keeping families and children safe and protecting individuals and parks from fireworks as well as maintaining parks clean and the proper disposal of coals.

With over 600 parks and 26 miles of lakefront, the Park District is gearing up for a busy holiday weekend and summer by reminding park patrons the do's and don'ts of summer fun in the parks.

"We are excited to welcome Chicagoans, visitors, families, friends and neighbors to celebrate the 4th of July safely in our parks," said Chicago Park District Superintendent Rosa Escareño. "Celebrations and picnics are what parks are all about and keeping our communities vibrant and local parks safe is a collaborative effort. We encourage everyone to celebrate safely, to protect children, each other and all that is nature in our parks by following some of our simple summer guidelines."

The Chicago Park District reminds residents to celebrate safely on park grounds. We urge the public to help keep families, children, neighbors and visitors safe, and to help keep wildlife and natural areas and resources protected.

Below are important tips for all park users to follow:

Fireworks and explosives devises are illegal and are strictly prohibited on park property. Fireworks and explosives are extremely dangerous to the public and pose severe damage to park playgrounds and ballfields. The public is urged to refrain from using fireworks and other explosive devices on all park grounds.

Picnics and grilling are synonymous with the 4th of July and families across the City flock to parks for this great experience. We urge residents to grill in designated areas and follow our grilling guidelines, only dispose of hot coals in the red cans located in the parks and NOT at the base of trees, which is dangerous for children playing nearby, harmful to trees, and wildlife

List of designated grilling areas can be found www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/grilling or at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/safe-celebration-guidelines.

Park amenities and hours of operation for the 4th of July holiday:

• Park District administration offices will be closed on Thursday, July 4th. However, local park hours will vary. Local park hours are available here.
• Garfield Park Conservatory and Lincoln Park Conservatory will be open. Free timed reservations are required for both and available in the following links: GPC tickets | LPC tickets.
• Indoor and outdoor pools across the city will be open at many of the parks with varying hours. Visit the District's website or contact the park for pool hours and days of operation. To access a list of 4th of July pool hours go here.
• Our parks and beaches will be heavily used this weekend. All beaches will be open from 11 a.m. to 7p.m., while lifeguards are on duty, including our only-inland beach at Humboldt Park. Beach visitors should also check the flag color at the beach or on our website at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/beaches to ensure that weather and surf conditions are adequate for swimming.
• Spray features will be in full operation and offering park visitors a place to cool-off. More than 200 water spray features will be on. Find a cool spot to enjoy water recreation here.
• Larger gatherings and cook-outs are welcome in the parks, however, to properly plan for city and park resources, park gatherings of 50 or more people are required to have a permit. Any unauthorized large groups will be dispersed. Our park safety and security team works closely with the Chicago Police Department to enforce this policy. For permit information, please click here.

With thousands of visitors at more than 600 parks and 26 miles of lakefront, we ask that everybody do their part to keep our city clean and enjoyable by properly disposing trash in the designated waste containers. Our Park District crews will be cleaning beaches regularly. The Park District will be sharing these Summer Safety Tips and Guidelines on our website at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/safe-celebration-guidelines and on our social media channels through the weekend.

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