The Chicago Park District’s 63rd Street beach was closed to swimmers Friday after officials found an unusually high level of bacteria in the water.
Park officials said a high count of fecal coliform bacteria was discovered during a daily water test Thursday, said David Harris, a Park District laboratory manager. The bacteria count wasn’t high enough to threaten public safety, but officials decided to bar beachgoers from the water as a precaution until the levels went down, Harris said.
By Friday afternoon, the bacteria levels were closer to normal range, but park officials were expected to retest the water Saturday morning before deciding whether to reopen the beach to swimmers.
Friday was the third time the Park District closed off beach waters this summer. The Montrose and South Shore beaches were each closed for one day this season, also because of high levels of fecal coliform bacteria, Harris said.
