Beach Update (posted Saturday, 7/17/10 at 9:00 am)
BEACH OPEN –Normal Conditions
Main Beach and West Beaches are OPEN for swimming with normal conditions.
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2330 Lake Avenue, Crystal Lake
Opening Date: Saturday, May 29, 2010
Closing Date: Sunday, August 15, 2010
Beach Hours: 9 AM until dusk daily
*Weekends only when school is in session.
Contact: (815) 477-5009 (staff are often not available to answer this phone, if you are unable to reach staff at this phone number, contact Main Beach).
300 Lake Shore Drive, Crystal Lake
Opening Date: Saturday, May 29, 2010
Closing Date: Monday, September 6, 2010
Beach Hours: 9 AM until dusk daily, 3 PM until dusk when school is in session.
Contact: (815) 477-5404 (this number is staffed only during the summer season).
On December 17, 2009, The Crystal Lake Park District Board of Commissioners voted to institute daily beach fees for the 2010 beach season at Main Beach and West Park Beach. The fees will result in a reduction of the impact that beach operation staffing costs have had on the annual beach deficit. The following staffing areas generate significant cost to the beach operations budget, but are essential to the health and safety of beach patrons: beach captain, beach managers, lifeguards, lot attendants, gate attendants and Main Beach clerical staff. The aforementioned staff positions in 2009 totaled $147,124.85. In all other staffed programs that the Crystal Lake Park District operates throughout the community, user fees pay for the costs of staffing. The beach program is the only program in which taxpayers who do not use the program subsidize those who do use it.
The Crystal Lake Park District is instituting Resident Beach Fees for the first time since the late 1970's. These are currently the lowest daily and annual fees charged by any park district or city recreation department run beach facility in the Chicago area. Events such as the Tuesday evening Summer Concert Series and the Friday evening Movies in the Park series will continue to be free to the public.
Resident:
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| Resident Daily Admission |
$1.00 daily fee for all park district residents and their guests (up to 4 guests per family). Any guests above the maximum of 4 per family will be charged $4.00 each. |
| Resident Senior Daily Admission (ages 60 and older) |
FREE |
Resident Children Daily Admission
(age 5 and under) |
FREE |
- Specific information on purchasing the Season Beach Pass medallion will be published in the Summer 2010 Seasonal Program brochure, to be distributed beginning May 8.
- Crystal Lake Park District residents will have the option of purchasing a season pass:
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| Resident Individual Season Pass |
$10.00 |
| Resident Family Season Pass |
$10.00 for first family member, each additional family member is $5.00.
(family of four would be $25.00 for the season) |
| Replacement cost for Season Pass |
$5.00 each |
All beach users (resident and non-resident) will receive a coupon good for one of the following (each time the user comes to the beach):
- Two-for-One small fountain drink
- Two-for-One Ice Pop
- $1.00 off (1) round of miniature golf or one bucket of balls at the Lippold Park Family Golf Center.
Vehicles entering Main or West Park Beach MUST have a current vehicle sticker attached to the windshield or a daily fee will be charged. City of Crystal Lake, Village of Lakewood and the Park District stickers are accepted.
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Non-resident daily fees to enter the beaches are: |
| Seniors (62 and older) |
$6.00 ($3.00 after 4 pm) |
| Adults (16 and older) |
$10.00 ($5.00 after 4 pm) |
| Youth (4-15 years) |
$6.00 ($3.00 after 4 pm) |
| Ages 3 and under |
Free |
| Parking |
$5.00 ($3.00 after 4 pm) |
$1.00 daily fee for all park district residents and their guests (up to 4 guests per family). Any guests above the maximum of 4 per family will be charged $4.00 each.
The Crystal Lake Park District offers a non-resident beach pass, valid Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. A family pass is $200 (limit two passes), and an individual pass is $100. The passes are for beach use only and do not include the boat launch, program or special event privileges. The passes do not include entrance of guests.
To obtain a non-resident beach pass, you must provide all the following documents, in person:
- a valid driver’s license
- current vehicle registration(s)
- names of all family members residing at your address
A lock-up area for bikes is provided at Main and West Beaches.
Animals are prohibited at Main Beach and West Beach.
For the safety of a all patrons, the park district employs a highly trained lifeguard team, beach manager and a number of support personnel who are on duty 9 AM to dusk daily. Swim break rest periods are scheduled for 2:15 PM and 4:15 PM daily for everyone’s safety. Rest periods may be run every hour on the hour depending on the temperature.
Children under 11 years of age must be accompanied by an adult ages 16 or older.
The concession stands are open daily serving a variety of prepared hot foods, ice cream, beverages, chips and candy.
Picnic tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis Monday through Saturday. On Sundays and holidays, you must obtain a table permit at the entrance gate and keep it on your table throughout the day. Only one permit per carload will be issued.
Boating on beautiful Crystal Lake is fun and affordable through the Park District boat rental operation at the Main Beach Boat House. Canoes, rowboats, sailboats, paddleboats, kayaks and hydrobikes are available to rent on an hourly basis at Main Beach, whenever they are not being used for recreation programs. Fees are on a per boat basis.
| Type of Boat |
Hourly Fees |
| Paddleboat |
$6 |
| Canoe |
$6 |
| Sailboat* |
$8 |
| Rowboat** |
$6 |
| Hydrobike |
$6 |
| Kayak |
$6 |
| Cushion |
$1 per rental |
*To rent a sailboat, you must present a park district sailing card, which can be obtained by taking our sailing program, or one from another reliable organization.
**Fisherman rate for rowboats is half price.
All residents of the Crystal Lake Park District are eligible to boat on Crystal Lake. See Boat Gate Card information below. The Village of Lakewood and the City of Crystal Lake have a joint agreement for regulating and patrolling the lake. A copy of the Crystal Lake Boating and Safety Regulations as put forth by the Village of Lakewood can be found at the Village of Lakewood website.
Available Monday, January 4, 2010
Park District Residents Only.
Fee: $60, Seniors 60 & older, receive a half price discount.
Park District resident boat owners must purchase a new card each year to use the Main or West Park launch ramps. In order to purchase a card, you must provide all the following documents in person:
-Current Illinois driver's license
-Illinois boat registration card
-Application fee (see above for amount)
Available Monday, January 4, 2010
Park District Residents Only
Fee: $20 (proof of residency required)
The Park District offers gate keys to residents who want to fish at Main or West Park beaches before the parks open at 9 AM. Key allow for entrance through the park's special walk-in gates. (Small portable boats are NOT allowed through the walk-in gate.)
Flagpoles located at Main and West Beaches (adjacent to the recreation buildings) carry color-coded weather flags to inform boaters about weather conditions. To help ensure your safety, please learn the meaning of the following flag colors and make it a habit to look for them while on the lake.
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| GREEN: |
Fair weather, light air, wind 1-10 m.p.h. |
| BLUE: |
Fair weather, heavy air, wind 10-20 m.p.h. |
| RED & BLUE: |
Poor weather, heavy air, wind above 20 m.p.h. |
| YELLOW: |
Storm approaching |
| RED: |
Beach Closed. KEEP OFF LAKE |
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