Suspected Grenade Found, Detonated At Highland Park Lakefront

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — A suspected hand grenade was discovered Tuesday at the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve in Highland Park, police said. Openlands representatives said Friday the lakefront and nearby bluff would remain closed to the public pending an investigation.

Around 4 p.m., a person walking on the beach noticed a suspicious object that looked like an old hand grenade near and notified Highland Park police, according to Deputy Chief Bill Bonaguidi.

Officers closed off the area and called in called in assistance from the Waukegan bomb squad, which detonated the item. Police were unsure if it was a live explosive or some kind of replica.

"[We] don't know how long it had been there, not sure how it go there, whether it washed up or unearthed," Bonaguidi told Patch. "But the bomb squad came down and made it safe."

Highland Park city staff asked the public to stay off the bluff and lakefront.

"Temporary fencing and signage will be installed along the blufftop and at the authorized entrance to the lakefront," according to a statement. "The paved blufftop trail and ravine trail will remain open at the present time."

The nonprofit Openlands manages the preserve, which is located on 77 acres east of Fort Sheridan. The group issued a statement about the incident Friday morning.

"Openlands is taking steps to ensure public safety by alerting the public and working with the military," it said. "In the interim, all persons must keep off the bluff and lakefront until an investigation is complete."

No further details about the nature of the investigation or plans to reopen the preserve was immediately available from Openlands representatives. Any information received will be added here.