(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Chicago’s Lakefront Trail won’t officially reopen for almost a week, on Monday June 22.
But it might as well be open now, WBBM Newsradio’s Steve Miller reports.
When Phase 3 began early this month in Chicago, North Side resident Shawna Ohm says she asked a police officer blocking off the lakefront about walking her dog near the water. She had seen people creeping back onto the trail already.
The officer told her the area was not open but he couldn’t arrest her, she recalls.
“I’m not a rule-breaker by any means, but when they said they wouldn’t arrest me, and when everyone else was doing it …”
She wasn’t alone on the lakefront early this week. There were people at Montrose Harbor and in the park.
“I did actually tweet today that I thought it was very silly,” Ohm said. “It’s very clear that the lakefront is unofficially open, and I thought it made the mayor look a little strange to retroactively open it in a full week from now when it’s already basically open.”
Even after the trail officially opens next week, the beaches and parks near the lake will stay closed. Officially, anyway.
Lightfoot said people will be expected to keep things moving on the trail — by running, walking or bicycling — and “ambassadors” will remind people to keep their distance, when necessary.