The Chicago Riverwalk has been closed since March.
Today, June 12, the Chicago Riverwalk is reopening to the public with some restrictions in place.
In the last couple weeks, Chicago has gradually begun to reopen city amenities to the public. On June 3, when Chicago entered into Phase 3 of its reopening plan, the city permitted bars and restaurants for outdoor dining, as well as businesses such as barbershops, salons, tattoo parlors, retail stores, offices, and other non-essential businesses.
Earlier this week, the city reopened libraries to the public, in addition to most of its parks — with the exclusion of the Lakefront. Most recently, Navy Pier reopened to the public this past Wednesday with some restrictions in place. Now, the Chicago Riverwalk will follow suit.
The Riverwalk officially reopened this morning at 5 am but closed at 10 am for cleaning. For the near future, this time slot will be reserved for those that wish to walk, run, or bike the path between Lake Street and Lake Shore Drive.
At 11:00 am, the Riverwalk businesses will reopen, which include:
- Beat Kitchen and Community Marketplace
- Chicago Brewhouse
- Chicago’s First Lady
- City Winery
- Island Party
- Mercury Sightseeing Cruises
- Sweet Home Gelato (for walk-up service)
- The Northman
- Tiny Tapp
- Urban Kayaks
At this time, businesses will only be able to serve customers with reservations, closing at 9 pm.
“The full concessions program will be launched through a phased rollout over the coming weeks. In addition to requiring reservations each establishment will take extra precautions to properly space tables 6 feet apart. During this time there will also be several passive recreation areas for outdoor use,” said the city.
Visitors must wear face coverings and practice social distancing.
See also: Recess Unveils Gigantic New Patio In West Loop.
[Featured image: @torresdvd]