Starved Rock State Park reopens Friday. But there are some limits on what can be done. Site Superintendent Alvin Harper says some of the limits are because of flooding and some are because of rules meant to minimize spreading the coronavirus. About two-thirds of the parking at Starved Rock is by the Illinois River, which is still six feet over flood stage as of midday Thursday. And people aren’t to be in groups of ten or more if they’re not families.
Harper says all the trails at Starved Rock will be open, but they are slippery because they’re so wet. He says stay on them and he asks people to respect the rebounding plant life along the trails.
Some trails by the river at Matthiessen State Park will stay closed. The swollen Illinois River has overtaken them.