CL beaches no longer free
By BRETT ROWLAND
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CRYSTAL LAKE – Now that Crystal Lake Park District beaches are open, residents should be prepared to pay for the privilege of swimming and soaking up the sun.
Residents and their guests have to pay a $1 daily fee to use Main and West beaches.
Residents 60 and older and children younger than 5 are admitted free. Frequent beach-goers can take advantage of season pass options.
A Crystal Lake, Lakewood or Crystal Lake Park District vehicle sticker is needed to establish residency.
The Crystal Lake Park Board voted in December 2009 to begin charging for admission to the beaches for the first time since the 1970s.
The fees are needed to help offset the annual cost of staffing and maintaining the beaches.
Although the beaches have been run at a loss for more than 20 years, the operational deficit has been growing.
“The cost to operate the beaches has become exorbitant,” Park District Executive Director Jason Herbster said. “This will help to offset the cost a little.”
Last season, the two beaches lost about $150,000. The fees are expected to bring in an estimated $70,000 to $80,000 in 2010.
Walkers, joggers, evening concert-goers, playground users and sunset watchers will not be charged admission, Herbster said.
Fees for nonresidents remain the same.
As before, nonresident adults pay $10 and children and seniors $6 for daily admission. Nonresidents also have to pay $5 for parking.
Information about beach fees, hours and season passes are available online at www.crystallakeparks.org or by calling the Park District at 815-459-0680.
