No End In Sight For Closure Of Openlands Lakeshore Preserve Beach

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Six weeks after a pair of suspected explosives were discovered along the lakeside bluff at the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve, portions of the nature preserve could reopen to the public within the next week.

But there is no timeline for a reopening of the beach and bluff area where the possible unexploded ordnance were discovered last month.

Representatives of Openlands Foundation, the private owner of the former portion of Fort Sheridan military base, said in a statement they hoped to reopen as soon as possible but blamed the military over a lack of an on-site investigation.

"Based on the ambiguity of the military statement and the lack of information that Openlands has received from the military, the bluff and beach trail will remain closed pending further investigation," it said.

The foundation's statement said upland trails, the ravine trail and both staircases are expected to reopen ahead of Memorial Day weekend, "based on the results of our own due diligence."

Last week, Army and Navy officials responded to Openlands' concerns about the April 6 and April 9 discoveries, which were handled by the Waukegan Police Department bomb squad.

Their statement said the history of former operational ranges and sites at the former fort was assessed when the Army transferred the property to the Navy.

"As part of the property transfer to Openlands, there should have been information of the property’s history, including the locations of several ranges that were operable prior to 1955 where munitions were fired into Lake Michigan and where specific military warfare training occurred," it said.

"With the information you provided, it was verified by Army personnel that the locations where the suspected ordnance were found, and subsequently disposed of by the first responders, were not near the former training ranges or firing sites operated by the Army on the former Fort Sheridan. Based on a collective assessment by Army and Navy personnel, the suspected munitions are most likely not from the former Fort Sheridan upland ranges and may have washed up from the lake over the winter," the statement continued.

"Based on the information we have reviewed, we conclude that the April 2021 incidents were anomalies and do not require further investigation by either department at this time."

EARLIER: Suspected Grenade Found, Detonated At Highland Park Lakefront

Openlands representatives said the military's response was inadequate to allow for reopening.

"No onsite investigation of the land, water, or lakebed was completed, and the Navy has requested more detail from Army investigators," according to the foundation's statement. "Openlands is awaiting the preliminary assessment from the military to evaluate next steps, ensuring that due diligence is followed for the safety of all visitors."

John Sheppard, Naval Station Great Lakes spokesperson, told Patch the Navy has not received any requests from Openlands officials since the nonprofit received the military's May 13 statement.

"If Openlands would like assistance from the Navy, they should use a process in which a civil authority (Highland Park Police, Lake County Sheriff’s, for example) asks the military for specific help. This is called 'Defense Support of Civil Authorities' or DSCA," Sheppard told Patch in an email.

Patch asked Openlands representatives whether the nonprofit had formally requested any assistance from any branch of the military via civil authorities, as well as who was conducting the "further investigation" cited in the nonprofit's statement.

Openlands Foundation Communications Director Emily Reusswig declined to comment.

Sheppard said a DSCA request was the proper way to get help from Defense Department within the United States.

"The appropriate way to ask us for assistance is to ask the civil authority, who will then ask us to assist," he said. "Ultimately, Openlands is the property owner and they will make the determination when they feel the property is safe."