A park in northern Illinois is so popular, some visitors may have to be turned away this weekend. That's the warning from the Illinois DNR for anyone considering a trip to Starved Rock State Park near Utica for the 4th of July.
DNR spokesman Tim Schweitzer says during the Memorial Day weekend, 94,000 people visited the park, pushing it to capacity, and forcing it to close temporarily when the parking lots were full. It could happen again this weekend, so he says the DNR will provide updates on Facebook and Twitter. Once the parking lots are full we can't allow people to park on nearby roads - it's not safe.
Schweitzer says it's not unusual for state parks to be busy on holiday weekends, but it is unusual for a park to be closed.
For those who do go to Starved Rock, the department says remember the rules against swimming in the Illinois River and going off the trails.
Copyright 2021 WVIK, Quad Cities NPR. To see more, visit WVIK, Quad Cities NPR. 9(MDEwNzMwNTg2MDEzNTgxODc5OTM3MWU0Ng004))
