Forest Preserve Program Capacity Expands Due To County's Shift To Phase 4

Press release from the Forest Preserve District of Will County:

Forest Preserve District indoor programs can expand to a maximum of 50 people now that Will County has moved to Phase 4 of the state's Restore Illinois COVID-19 plan.

Also, rentals at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon can expand to a 50-person maximum. The changes are the result of the Illinois Department of Public Health's announcement on Monday, February 1, that Will County's pandemic status had moved to a less restricted level. Will County is part of Region 7, which also includes Kankakee County.

A 25 percent building capacity will remain in effect for the District's visitor centers. Face masks are required inside visitor centers and for indoor and outdoor program participants, with the exception of those younger than 2 years old and those with a medical condition or disability that prevents them from wearing one, per state guidelines.

Three of the visitor centers that had been closed when Will County was under a Tier 3 COVID-19 mitigation level, reopened January 23 when Region 7 moved to Tier 1 status. Sugar Creek Administration Center in Joliet reopened January 4.

Dog parks, preserves, trails, campgrounds and latrines remain open.

Forest Preserve employees have continued to work on site or remotely throughout the pandemic and its changing phases and mitigation levels, and phones have been staffed throughout this time period.

Online programs will continue via Zoom webinars and Facebook Live presentations. Program listings can be found on the District's Event Calendar.

Throughout the pandemic, the Forest Preserve has been urging everyone to abide by advice from health experts to:

• Wear masks outdoors if you can't maintain a social distance of at least 6 feet from others.
• Wash your hands with soap and water frequently for at least 20 seconds.
• Bring hand sanitizer with you if you can't wash your hands.
• Use disinfecting wipes on surfaces that may have been touched by others.
• Choose to visit outdoor recreational sites that are less crowded or go at a time when there will be fewer people at the same location.
• Stay home if you feel sick.

For more information on COVID-19 in Will County, visit the Will County Health Department's website.

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Stay up-to-date on the happenings in Will County's forest preserves by subscribing to The Citizen, our weekly digital newsletter that provides subscribers with updates on Forest Preserve news, upcoming events, and other fun and useful information for the whole family. If you're only interested in programs, subscribe to The Weekly Five, which outlines the five must-do programs each week. Signing up for either newsletter is easy and free of charge.

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Stay up-to-date on the happenings in Will County's forest preserves by subscribing to The Citizen, our weekly digital newsletter that provides subscribers with updates on Forest Preserve news, upcoming events, and other fun and useful information for the whole family. If you're only interested in programs, subscribe to The Weekly Five, which outlines the five must-do programs each week. Signing up for either newsletter is easy and free of charge.

This press release was produced by the Forest Preserve District of Will County. The views expressed are the author's own.