Starved Rock State Park is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the state, but flooding along the Illinois River could hamper travel plans over the Memorial Day weekend.
In a Facebook post, the park announced that the lower parking lots along the river are closed, meaning that the area has 650 fewer parking spots to deal with the influx of visitors over the weekend.
According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Starved Rock will be left with only 300 parking spots in an overflow lot, and temporary park closures are possible if the lots reach capacity.
The heaviest traffic is anticipated from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day of the weekend, and the department calls temporary closures “likely” at those times.
“State park staff and IDNR Conservation Police Officers will monitor and direct traffic, and we encourage motorists to slow down, be patient, and follow instructions in and near the park,” Jerry Costello, director of the IDNR Office of Law Enforcement, said in a statement.
Trails at Starved Rock and Matthiessen Park have also been impacted by the flooding, with horse trails remaining closed at Matthiessen. Other trails remain open but are extremely muddy, leading officials to recommend hikers search out other parks for the weekend.
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For the latest updates on parking and other weather-related information, visitors can check out the IDNR Twitter and Facebook feeds. Visitors near the park can also tune their radios to 1610 AM for more information.
