(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Parking – or lack of it – is potential problem that could face some visitors to two popular state parks in Northern Illinois this Labor Day weekend is parking.
Labor Day weekend is one of the most popular times of the year at Starved Rock and Matthiessen state parks in LaSalle County about 95 miles southwest of Chicago.
Rachel Torbert of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources has advice for anyone driving to either of the parks this holiday weekend: Get there early.
Once the parking lots fill up, the parks have to close temporarily for safety reasons until parking spaces open up, Torbert said.
She recommends checking the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Facebook and Twitter feeds for updates on parking availability.
Starved Rock’s Parkman’s Plain parking area off of Illinois Rt. 71 is closed due to construction, but all other lots are expected to be open this weekend.
Starved Rock Lodge guests and lodge restaurant guests with reservations will be allowed to enter the park. Lodge parking will be restricted to lodge patrons with reservations.