Chicago Legalizes Surfing 0
The Chicago Park District has lifted its ban on surfing at its beaches. Surfers are now allowed to hang 10 at their own risk during the swim season (Memorial Day through Labor Day) at Montrose and 57th Street Beaches, and out-of-season (Labor Day through Memorial Day) at Osterman, Montrose, 57th Street and Rainbow Beaches.
“We’re really excited,” said Vince Deur, co-chair of the Lake Michigan chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, which lobbied for the change.
Efforts to legalize surfing in Chicago began in December 2006 after Jack Flynn, a graphic designer who lives in Old Town, was ticketed for surfing off the 57th Street Beach.
Flynn started an online petition. “I got a couple thousand signatures from people from all over the world,” he said. “People were calling me from Bali saying they were excited that if they were ever in Chicago they could go surfing.”
Deur and the Surfrider Foundation joined the effort, meeting with Park District staffers several times beginning last December. “We’re not talking about endangering people’s lives,” Deur said. “This is recreation people love and enjoy.”