Following the drowning earlier this month of a 13-year-old girl just 30 minutes after lifeguards had ended their shift at Loyola Beach, the Chicago Park District said it is adding signs and warning flags along the lakefront while also trying to build awareness about beach safety.
Outside of lifeguard hours — 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. — a red warning flag will be up, regardless of lake conditions, Park District spokeswoman Jessica Maxey-Faulkner said. Traditionally, lifeguards have removed flags indicating swim bans at the end of their day.
In addition, signs reminding beachgoers to swim only when lifeguards are on duty have been installed on the back of lifeguard perches. The Park District will try to provide more beach safety education through social media and materials distributed to schools.
Park districts across the North Shore, including those in Wilmette and Winnetka, have told the Tribune that they leave up signs and flags overnight, warning people of bad swimming conditions.
Halle Quezada, a West Rogers Park resident who witnessed the July 6 drowning of 13-year-old Darihanne Torres, started a petition calling upon the city to implement more safety measures. On Friday, she said the Chicago Park District’s response is “not enough.”
The petition started by Quezada and her friend Kathy McGroarty-Torres, has received over 2,000 signatures. It calls on Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Ald. Joe Moore, 49th, the Park District, police and Chicago Public Schools to implement safety measures, such as extended lifeguard hours, additional signage, training and tools for first responders, and requiring water safety curriculum in schools.
Prior to 2009, Park District lifeguards patrolled the beaches from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Their hours were cut in 2009 to save money.
Lauren Markowitz, a spokeswoman for the mayor’s office, said in an email Tuesday that “parks is taking this seriously and is already taking actions to increase awareness.” A police spokesman said the department has been in contact with the office of Moore — who made recommendations Monday to the Park District and who plans to convene a task force — and is working with him to find resolutions.
Quezada said she would like the signs to also include warnings about rip and structure currents, like the one that swept Darihanne away. She said the signs should use diagrams, so that regardless of the language people speak, they can be informed about how to escape a rip current or aid someone who is caught in one.
Quezada said she feels that an after-hours color-coded flag system with explanations would be more effective than always having a red warning flag up after hours.
“If the problem is people in the city are not informed, and because they aren’t appropriately informed they’re risking their lives for a quick dip in the lake … then leaving a red flag up all the time when lifeguards aren’t there isn’t going to help fix the problem of people not being properly informed about the lake, its currents and its dangers,” she said.
Quezada said she plans to meet with Moore, as well as Park District leadership.
Twitter @Tessa_Weinberg
