McHenry County Conservation District announces additional closures
The McHenry County Conservation District is doing all they can to keep employees, visitors and residents as healthy and safe as possible. In response to the guidance by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the shelter-in-place order issued by Governor JB Pritzker in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 disease, the conservation district has announced additional cancellations and closures.
On April 1, the district announced that it is closing The Hollows (Lake Atwood) in Cary, Beck's Woods and Piscasaw North in Chemung for fishing through April 30 to conform with the social distancing guidelines issued by Governor J.B. Pritzker's Stay at Home Executive Order and deter the large number of anglers expected with the opening of trout season.
All three sites are closed completely Saturday and Sunday, April 4-5, to deter the large crowds that are expected this weekend with the opening of trout season. The hiking trails at The Hollows will reopen on Monday, April 6, while Lake Atwood and all of Beck's Woods and Piscasaw North sites will remain closed.
The conservation district encourages residents and visitors to keep physically and mentally healthy by spending time outdoors, while keeping your distance from other people. Help keep our sites open by complying with social distancing protocol. They are seeing high levels of visitation, especially at the more popular preserves, so conservation district staff want to send out some reminders.
• Go solo and avoid crowds! Social distancing is the key to stopping the spread of COVID-19 - stay 6 feet apart from people you do not live with.
• Avoid crowded areas, including parking lots! If your favorite place is full, find a less crowded place or trail.
• "Go B4 You Go" as all restrooms are closed and hand pumps removed.
• Yield to others on the trail and walk single-file where the trail narrows to keep a safe distance, and walk clockwise on looped trails!
• Do not hold social gatherings. Now is not the time to meet up with friends for a hike.
• Bring the outside in. Follow MCCD on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter for inspiration
Additional changes and new announcements may come in response to the circumstances in the days to come. The district will offer updates as soon as they can. The district's website, MCCDistrict.org, is the best location for the most up-to-date information on site openings/closing - as well as the Facebook page @DiscoverMCCD. They will continue to monitor the situation closely and always keep your best interests, health and safety in mind.