Chicago, Your Beaches Await
Today begins the beach season in Chicago
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We're all excited to jump in.
Surf's up! Well, sort of.
Chicago beaches officially open today.
In addition to placing lifeguards at city beaches throughout the summer, officials are also debuting a new public beach. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held this morning at the Oakwood-39th Street beach.
Up and down the lakeshore -- 26 miles of open and free lakefront -- public beaches are getting new hours of operation this year; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
And, it's still free.
The Chicago Park District's "The Swim Report" offers conditions at each of its beaches throughout the season.
Note, the water temperature in Lake Michigan for this opening day: 50 degrees at North Avenue Beach.
For the faint of heart, then, The Daily Herald is reporting that many area park districts will open their pools and water parks for the season on Saturday. The water will likely be more tepid in those locations.
Posted Thursday, Jul 16, 2009 - 5:21 PM CST
