Important COVID-19 Community Updates
Lake Forest is currently in Phase 4 of the Governor's "Restore Illinois" Plan. View the Phase 4 Guidelines here.

Please remember that face coverings, frequent hand sanitizing and 6-foot physical distancing are still required.

  • Wear a Mask
  • Wash Your Hands
  • Watch Your Distance

If you have noticed you are not following COVID-19 precautions closely, you may be suffering from caution fatigue. This may cause you to have lower motivation to social distance and increase your risk of getting COVID-19. There are ways to combat caution fatigue.

  • Take care of your physical and mental health.
  • Reframe risks and benefits.
  • Rebuild your routine.
  • Make altruism a habit.
  • Switch up your media diet.
Almost all City buildings are open with limited staffing and safety protocols in place. The City encourages residents to continue using online City services as often as possible.

This E-Newsletter will continue to be issued every Friday or as necessary.

Please dial 9-1-1 in case of emergencies only, and 847.234.2601 for non-emergencies. For all other City services, please call the City's general phone line, 847.234.2600. Check the City's website for additional information and continue to send any inquiries to cityhall@cityoflakeforest.com.
This Labor Day Weekend:
Hosting gatherings or cook-outs?
Stay safe!

  • Remind invited guests to stay home if they have been exposed to COVID-19 in the last 14 days or are showing COVID-19 symptoms. Anyone who has had close contact with a person who has COVID-19 should also stay home and monitor their health. Invited guests who live with those at higher risk should also consider the potential risk to their loved ones.
  • Consider keeping a list of guests who attended for potential future contract tracing needs.
Encourage social distancing
  • Host your gathering outdoors, when possible. If this is not feasible, make sure the room or space is well-ventilated (for example, open a window).
  • Arrange tables and chairs to allow for social distancing. People from the same household can be in groups together and don’t need to be 6 feet apart – just 6 feet away from other families.
  • If planning activities for adults and/or kids, consider those where social distancing can be maintained, like sidewalk chalk art or frisbee.
  • When guests arrive, minimize gestures that promote close contact. For example, don’t shake hands, do elbow bumps, or give hugs. Instead wave and verbally greet them.
Wear masks
  • Wear masks when less than 6 feet apart from people or indoors.
  • Consider providing masks for guests or asking them to bring their own.
Clean hands often
  • Consider providing hand sanitizer in addition to clearly marked hand washing areas.
  • Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds when entering and exiting social gatherings. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
  • Make sure there is adequate soap or hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol available in the restrooms and encourage guests not to form a line at the door. Consider also providing cleaning supplies that allow guests to wipe down surfaces before they leave.
  • Remind guests to wash their hands before serving or eating food.
  • Use single-use hand towels or paper towels for drying hands so guests do not share a towel.
Limit the number of people handling or serving food
  • Encourage guests to bring their own food and drinks.
  • Limit people going in and out of the areas where food is being prepared or handled, such as in the kitchen or around the grill, if possible.
  • If serving any food, consider identifying one person to serve all food so that multiple people are not handling the serving utensils.
  • Use single-use options or identify one person to serve shareable items, like salad dressings, food containers, and condiments, so that multiple people are not handling the items.
Limit contact with commonly touched surfaces or shared items
  • Use touchless garbage cans or pails.
  • Use gloves when removing garbage bags or handling and disposing of trash. Wash hands after removing gloves.
  • Clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces and any shared items between use when feasible.
  • If you choose to use any shared items that are reusable (e.g., seating covers, tablecloths, linen napkins), wash, clean, and sanitize them after the event. 
Virtual City Council Meeting on Tuesday, September 8

The next meeting will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, September 8 at 6:30 p.m. View the meeting agenda here. The meeting will be live-streamed on the City's website, on cable TV (Comcast channel 17 and U-verse channel 99) or by following the Zoom link included on the agenda. You may provide public comment by calling 847.810.3643 during the meeting.
Fall Ward Meetings

Zoom in for informative community information!

Since the spring ward meetings were cancelled due to the COVID pandemic, the City rescheduled them for this fall and they will take place virtually online.

We hope you will be able to join your Aldermen to learn about issues important to your neighborhood and all of Lake Forest. Please check here for the details on how to participate.

Ward 2: Tuesday, September 29; 7-8:30 p.m. with Aldermen Melanie Rummel and Ted Notz

Ward 4: Thursday, October 8; 7-8:30 p.m. with Aldermen Ray Buschmann and Eileen Looby Weber

Ward 1: Tuesday, October 27; 7-8:30 p.m. with Aldermen Jed Morris
and Jennifer Karras

Ward 3: Thursday, October 29; 7-8:30 p.m. with Aldermen Jim Preschlack and Ara Goshgarian
Don't Miss Out in Responding to the Census

Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart reminds all Lake County residents that we only get one chance every 10 years to take part in the census, so please don’t miss out—it’s just too important! An accurate census count helps ensure Lake County gets the federal funding it deserves to support our schools, roads, healthcare and more. Respond online at my2020census.gov, or call 844-330-2020.
What's Open in Lake Forest?
Parks & Recreation Facilities
  • Deerpath Golf Course
  • Forest Park Beach (including concessions and restrooms)
  • Park Grounds & Trails
  • Tennis Courts
  • Playgrounds at All Facilities
  • Park Restrooms
  • Volleyball nets at the beach
  • Stirling Hall 
  • Dickinson Hall (by appointment; call 847.234.2209)
  • Wildlife Discovery Center (outdoor exhibits and trails open, indoor exhibits & restrooms are closed)
  • Recreation Center (to registered program participants)
  • Fitness Center
  • CROYA 
  • Lake Forest Library
  • Lake Forest Cemetery Gatehouse (by appointment; call 847.615.4341)
  • Kinderhaven
  • Park and Beach Pavilions will remain closed through 2020 
*For a complete list of the status of recreation facilities visit the Lake Forest Parks & Recreation's website.
City Buildings 
  • Cemetery & Gatehouse
  • City Hall
  • Compost/Recycling Center
  • East Train Station - Restrooms, Silver Lining Barber Shop and Slick Shine (Metra ticket office closed)
  • Telegraph Road Train Station
  • Municipal Services Building
  • Public Safety Building
  • Water Plant
*For a complete list of the status of City buildings visit the City's website.
Community Facilities

Visit their websites for the most up to date information:
 
Lake County Interactive Map
Lake County occupies 1/2 of Region 9 according to the latest revisions to the Restore Illinois Plan. The western 1/2 of Region 9 is McHenry County.

The Lake County Health Department's interactive map shares the number of residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 in each municipality. You can view the map here.
Local Resources
State/Federal Resources
The City of Lake Forest, Illinois | Website