Protesters At Sit-In Call On Park District To Open Humboldt Park Beach
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A sit-in at Chicago's Humboldt Park Beach Sunday afternoon was held in hopes to get the attention of the Chicago Park District, reports WBBM's Mariam Sobh.
At least one hundred people braved the rainy drizzle and cold wind and enjoyed a picnic on the beach. Kids played with sand toys and held up signs asking for the beach to open up this year.
Morgan Halstead, a resident of Humboldt Park says getting to the lakefront from the West Side is an arduous task.
"I don't think they realize when they made this decision how important this beach was to this community and surrounding communities," Halstead said. "I think that they view it as well we have the lakefront so we can go there but getting to the lakefront is actually really hard from the West Side."
Sit-in organizers tell WBBM that it is the only inland beach in the area with shallow fresh water that is safe for kids to play in. They are hoping the Park District will open the beach this summer even if it is later than usual.
The Chicago Park District issued a statement this afternoon saying it is considering not opening the beach this summer because of financial and environmental concerns but wants to work with the community to find a sustainable and responsible alternative recreational water asset.