Chicago parks to close last 2 Fridays of 2011

Chicago’s public park facilities will close on the Fridays before Christmas and New Year’s due to budget constraints.

The Chicago Park District says Dec. 23 and Dec. 30 are mandatory shutdown days. The district held shutdowns earlier this year on Casimir Pulaski Day in March and the Friday after Thanksgiving.

While playgrounds will be open, park facilities and offices will not.

General superintendent Michael Kelly says the district “like countless other local organizations is faced with challenges resulting from difficult financial times.”