Some state parks will reopen gradually — not Starved Rock
Gov. JB Pritzker said the state would allow the gradual reopening of state parks and Illinois Department of Natural Resources properties beginning May 1, but it does not include one of the crown jewels of the state park system.
Large, popular state parks such as Starved Rock State Park were not mentioned as the ones that will reopen and be phased back in by May 1 in some fashion as the governor announced new and modified stay-at-home and social-distancing orders.
Staff members at Starved Rock State Park were not available for comment within 30 minutes of the governor's issuance of his new orders, but the Illinois Department of Natural Resources posted a list of parks that would gradually reopen starting May 1, and Starved Rock is not on the list of those reopening.
The governor did make things clear as he mentioned the gradual reopening of certain things across the state: 1, the coronavirus spread is not at its peak; 2, people should continue physical distancing and masks should be worn in public, including by children older than 2 years old; and 3, the governor can order sites and sectors closed if people abuse their freedoms and spread the disease.
"If I start to see crowds," said Pritzker, "I will need to bring back these restrictions."
Conservation police Sgt. Phil Wire said he and his officers have not been informed as to what they should be watching for, as they received information from the state about the parks at the same time as the public.
Wire said the Illinois and Michigan Canal and Shabbona Lake are on the list for reopening, daytime hours only, as well as the Rock Island Trail, a pedestrian link in a residential area near Peoria.
Hennepin Canal and Buffalo Rock were not on the reopening list.
Starved Rock Lodge, which has been closed temporarily, was working to issue a press release as of 3:30 p.m. Thursday.
DNR LISTING OF PARKS TO REOPEN MAY 1
To best serve and protect our visitors and staff, the below locations are open effective May 1:
Northwestern Illinois: Argyle Lake State Park, Jubilee College State Park, Lowden State Park, Morrison-Rockwood State Park, Rock Island Trail State Park, Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area
Northeastern Illinois: Chain o' Lakes State Park, Illinois and Michigan Canal State Trail, Kankakee River State Park, Moraine Hills State Park, North Point Marina
East Central Illinois: Clinton Lake State Recreation Area, Eagle Creek State Park, Kickapoo State Park, Wolf Creek State Park
West Central Illinois: Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area, Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area, Sangchris Lake State Park, Siloam Springs State Park, Washington County State Recreation Area
Northeastern Illinois: Chain o' Lakes State Park, Illinois and Michigan Canal State Trail, Kankakee River State Park, Moraine Hills State Park, North Point Marina
East Central Illinois: Clinton Lake State Recreation Area, Eagle Creek State Park, Kickapoo State Park, Wolf Creek State Park
West Central Illinois: Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area, Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area, Sangchris Lake State Park, Siloam Springs State Park, Washington County State Recreation Area
Parks will be open from sun-up to sundown. Guests will be allowed to engage in activities such as wildlife observation, hiking, biking, equestrian use and fishing (both from the bank and boats) and mushroom hunting. All visitors centers, campgrounds, playgrounds, shelter reservations, interpretive educational programs, beaches, special events and concessions will remain closed.
The governor also said he would allow boating, by no more than two people in a boat on public waters in open areas; and the resumption of some surgical operations at hospitals.
BUSINESS OWNERS: WHAT ABOUT US?
Area operators of businesses deemed nonessential have increasingly been lobbying for allowance to open up, at least partially, in the waning days of April l. Owners of many businesses also have questioned why they are deemed nonessential.
Mendota Mayor David Boelk, whose town is enforcing strict social-distancing rules at parks and stores, expressed disappointment in vague rules in Illinois regarding garden centers.
He said big-box stores seem to be open — with various rules about entrances or whether purchases need to be carry-out — but mom-and-pop nurseries seem to have received notifications that tree planting is not essential and they can't let customers in. He said it doesn't make sense for a business such as Ekana Nurseries to have restrictions when much of their business is from landscapers, deemed essential.
Golf course owners and operators and golf course associations convinced the state to allow courses to open up in mid-March after the first stay-at-home order took effect. For just one day, courses were open, with tough restrictions in place — social distancing required, one golfer per cart or walking only and every cart sanitized after each round. That same warm day in March, the governor received reports of gatherings statewide, at bars and especially at the beach in Chicago, and he shut down state parks, taverns, beaches and more (as have governors of many states).
Though the stay-at-home orders are being renewed, Spring Creek Golf Course co-owner Jack Potthoff said he thinks the state might allow re-opening of courses at some point in the next few days or couple of weeks.
The last time Spring Creek's staff opened the course, for a day, Potthoff took measures to prevent golfers from putting their hand in the hole or on the pin, by making certain all of the cups protruded above ground and the pins could not be pulled out. They also closed the clubhouse, and the bar, of course.
Potthoff and despite the lack of revenue, a skeleton crew of employees have been mowing and doing cleanup around the course — they have to mow regularly or the greens will be ruined.
