Chicago Park District summer kids camps delay start until July 6

The Chicago Park District’s summer day camps for kids have a new official starting date: July 6.

The camps typically run from June 22 to July 31, and will still end July 31 this year. But the first two weeks have been eliminated, per the Park District’s website, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Online registration now begins at 9 a.m. on June 11 — for camps taking place in parks west of California Avenue — or June 12 for camps in parks east of California Avenue, including the lakeshore. In-person registration for all camps begins at noon on June 13.

More information about the specific programs offered this year will be available June 1.

The pandemic has caused great uncertainty and delays in the summer programming schedule citywide. Registration, for example, was initially supposed to took place April 20.

And the new dates are still “subject to change based on guidance from public health officials,” the website reads.

In early April, Park District spokesperson Michele Lemons said the parks’ coronavirus response was “fluid” and that “all options” for summer programming, including camps, were being considered. Lemons could not be reached for comment Wednesday.