Dear Birders,
This morning I was contacted by a sergeant from the Chicago Police Department about the MRA bathroom situation. He wanted me to alert you to it if you are planning a trip to the area. Currently there are only two porto potties available in the entire recreational area (next to the harbor), and all of the bathrooms remain closed despite the unseasonably warm Spring weather and thousands of people using the MRA. The porto potties are overflowing with excrement (his photos attached), and while we were on the phone he was interrupted by a man complaining about the lack of facilities and asking him what to do.
More concerning, the sergeant said that people are using the Montrose natural areas to relieve themselves. I witnessed evidence of this myself last weekend while at Montrose Beach Dunes, where poop-filled tissue was scattered around the landscape sign on the main dune. The dunes are an Illinois Natural Areas Inventory site and have been one of the City's highest quality natural areas.
The sergeant told me he has informed the Park District about the problem. Be prepared if you go!
Best regards,
Leslie Borns
Chicago/Cook