Opening up on a nice weekend

A sunny and seasonable Saturday made life in the suburbs more enjoyable as more recreational offerings became available under Phase 3 of the state's COVID-19 reopening plan.

Spring Lake Beach, a small beach located on a lake in a Lincolnshire neighborhood east of the Des Plaines River, is now open after the COVID-19 lockdown rules were eased. However, it is operating without lifeguards and signs indicate swimming is "at your own risk." The slides there are not being used. Fewer than a dozen people were using the beach late Saturday morning.

Mason Blasek, 4, whose family lives nearby, was digging in the sand with his mom, Jen. She said they just wanted to get out of the house and have a change of scenery as they built a sand castle with the use of an orange cone.

Arlington Lakes Golf Course in Arlington Heights was among suburban golf courses that expanded their operations to allow foursomes and carts. People sharing a cart must be from the same household, masks are required in the clubhouse, and social distancing is required.

Arlington Lakes was operating at 85% to 90% capacity during the first two days of the weekend, said Golf Operations Manager Tim Govern.

"It's a nice weekend, we got lucky with the good weather," Govern said.