Hundreds brave 34-degree water temperatures for New Year's Day plunge

"The weather is beautiful. We have sunshine today," said Julie Schneider, manager of general and special recreation for the Waukegan Park District as preparations got under way Wednesday morning for the 21st Annual Waukegan Polar Bear Plunge.

"I'm just really excited. It's something that I always wanted to try, Just kind of figured I might as well - new year, new decade, new me," is how Alison Moro, 17, of Lombard summed up her first Polar Plunge.

Joining her in the dive into 34-degree water were her mom Monika and brother Nico, 14, who also were plunging for the first time.

Although warmer than many previous years, the air temperature was still colder than the water, but that failed to deter hundreds of other volunteers - some donning wild costumes, short pants, large inflatables or bikinis.

The plunge, a fundraiser to support special recreation summer camp participants with financial difficulties, was held at the Waukegan Municipal Beach.