Chicago's city beaches will officially open for the summer later this week, giving residents free access to lakeside swimming and outdoor recreation.
The Chicago Park District said the beach opened for the first time on Friday and is scheduled to be open every day during the Labor Day holiday.
Here's everything you need to know.
Is there a beach entrance fee?
Chicago beaches operated by the park district are open to the public and admission is free, according to the district's website.
When does the beach open?
The 2024 swimming season opens on Friday.
Officials said swimming is only allowed on the beach daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., when lifeguards are on duty.
Are there any restrictions on when I can swim?
The district says a color-coded flag system will let beachgoers know if they can swim that day.
If there is a green flag, you can swim without restrictions. Swimming is still permitted when yellow flags are displayed, but swimmers are asked to take precautions.
A red flag indicates that waves are at dangerous levels or there are water quality issues at the beach, and swimming is not permitted in these conditions.
When is the water quality tested?
The water is tested daily for a variety of contaminants, and alerts are issued each afternoon if there is a problem with water quality.
For more information, visit the park district's website.
Are all public beaches in the city open to the public?
Several beaches are currently closed due to erosion, including Fargo Beach, Howard Beach, Juneway Beach and Rogers Beach. For more information, visit the park district's website.
Are there any other rules I should know?
Beachgoers should note that smoking and drinking alcohol are prohibited on the beach. Dogs are not allowed outside of designated dog-friendly beaches, and residents must not feed birds or wildlife.
