Ice Skating and Sledding Information

Ice skating rinks will be located on Lake Zurich at Paulus Park and at Manor Park (Miller Rd., east of Rand Road). For the safety of all skaters, hockey will only be allowed at the Manor Park location and open until dusk. Paulus Park is lighted and will be open until 9 p.m.

Red flags at these locations indicate ice is not suitable for skating!

Call 847-438-5146, ext. 9 for updated skating conditions. If there is not a current update, the message that you hear is the current condition.

Sledding is available at Paulus Park, 200 S. Rand Road. The hill is unsupervised and not lighted. Sledding is available until dusk. Please refrain from building jump ramps on the sled hill, as this can cause injury to users. The sled hill can only be used when completely covered with snow.

Village of Lake Zurich 2011 Winter Program Park and Recreation

Clink on the link above to lean about programs the Lake Zurich Parks and Recreation Department is offering residents this winter and spring.

The Illinois Tollway is preparing to launch its Zero Weather Road Patrols to assist drivers stranded in their cars during the first deep freeze of the 2010-2011 winter season.  The Zero Weather Road Patrols are implemented when temperatures and/or wind chills drop below zero. 

The 24-hour service dedicates hourly patrols in search of motorists stranded in disabled vehicles or in response to calls that come in to *999 motorist assistance, Illinois Tollway dispatch or Illinois State Police District 15.

"Being stranded without gas or with a flat tire in sub-zero weather can be a frightening experience," said Executive Director Kristi Lafleur.  "The Zero Weather Road Patrols provide additional service to Tollway customers who can be assured that we will be there to help when needed."

During dangerously cold weather, the Illinois Tollway also encourages customers to visit one of the seven oases located along the Tollway system to warm up, check their vehicles or simply take a break.  The oases provide a variety of food, beverage and retail offerings, as well as Mobil fuel stations.  On the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80), there are four oases: Lake Forest, O'Hare, Hinsdale and Chicago Southland Lincoln in South Holland.  There are two oases on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) in Belvidere and Des Plaines, and one on the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) in DeKalb. 

While Tollway Highway Emergency Lane Patrol (H.E.L.P.) trucks run from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, the Zero Weather Road Patrols work throughout the day and night, including weekends.  Cars or trucks with empty fuel tanks, flat tires, overheated radiators or mechanical problems are just some of the most frequent problems reported among the motorists needing help.  

There are a minimum of 11 Zero Weather Road Patrols, at least one from each maintenance garage section.  While on patrol, these vehicles also retrieve debris reported in lanes and can assist Illinois State Police District 15 as needed.  Zero Weather Road Patrols augment H.E.L.P. trucks and State Police patrols and ensure all segments of the Tollway system are monitored, especially during the overnight hours. 

The Zero Weather Road Patrols consist of crew cab trucks equipped with arrow boards for directing traffic around accidents or stranded vehicles and enough room to accommodate up to five passengers if motorists need to be transported to a Tollway maintenance garage, toll plaza or Tollway oasis while service is obtained.

Other Tollway Services 

The Tollway's Traffic and Incident Management System (TIMS) provides real-time travel times via the Illinois Tollway's Web site - www.illinoistollway.com.  TIMS coordinates travel times and roadway information through the use of more than 200 roadway cameras, I-PASS electronic toll collection data, systemwide weather sensors, computer-aided dispatch for Illinois Tollway maintenance and Illinois State Police District 15 and motorist phone calls.  This information helps the Tollway quickly identify and confirm problems on the roadway, providing immediate, real-time assessment of incidents and allowing maintenance and emergency vehicles to be dispatched sooner, which helps the Tollway keep the roadways clear of accidents, as well as snow and ice.

In addition, the Illinois Tollway operates a toll-free telephone line to keep customers up to date about weather conditions on its roadways.  Customers can call 1-800-TOLL-FYI (1-800-865-5394) to get recorded information that is updated every two hours or as conditions require during winter storms. 

Winter Weather Travel Tips

The Tollway offers the following travel tips to keep safe during extreme temperatures:

·         Stranded motorists should turn on their emergency lights and remain in their vehicles until help arrives. 

·         Cell phone users should call *999 motorist assistance for roadway assistance or to report other motorists pulled over on the side of the road. 

·         Before calling, try to note the nearest milepost marker - a green and white sign that displays a number, direction of travel and route designation shield - so the stranded motorist can be quickly located.

About the Illinois Tollway

The Illinois Tollway is a user-fee system that receives no state or federal funds for maintenance and operations. The agency maintains and operates 286 miles of interstate tollways in 12 counties in Northern Illinois, including the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355), the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) and the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80).

SPAM - the Grinch who could steal your Holidays...

As many of you know, the holiday season is when spammers' activity is at its peak.  Spammers' may be trying to steal your personal information through e-mails masquerading as a legitimate banking site, PayPal account, a UPS delivery notice, etc.

Please use caution when you receive an email from a person or entity you don't recognize. If you open a suspicious e-mail, or click on an included link, it could install spyware, or a virus, that can steal your personal information or take control of your computer.  Please be aware and alert to this threat.

Some quick warning signs about SPAM email and fraudulent attempts to get your information:

·         Never click on a link inside a suspect email.

·         If the message sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

·         Be suspicious if it pressures you to act "right away".

·         If it guarantees success - be even more suspicious!

Things to remember:

·         Your bank will never e-mail or call you for your account information;  they already have it.  Double-check before giving information.

·         Check your bank/credit card statements for charges you don't recognize.

Be alert, be aware, and be cautious this holiday season.