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McLean Co. officials issues public health warning at Myer Creek Park

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Friday, September 19th 2025 at 13:23 GMT by 14 NEWS
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McLean County Issues Public‑Health Warning for Myer Creek Park After E. coli Tests

McLean County, Illinois – September 19, 2025 – County officials announced a public‑health warning after a series of water‑testing results revealed the presence of Escherichia coli (E. coli) at the Myer Creek Park in the northern part of the county. The warning, issued by the McLean County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) in collaboration with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), urges all residents and visitors to avoid swimming or wading in the park’s pond and to refrain from consuming fish caught there until further notice.

How the Problem Was Discovered

On September 10, MCDPH received a request from the local fire department to test the pond water following a spike in reports of gastrointestinal complaints from families that had visited the park during the previous weekend. In the days after, the county’s environmental health team collected water samples from five points around the pond, including the inlet, outlet, and a central bathing area. The samples were immediately forwarded to the Illinois Environmental Health Laboratory in Springfield for analysis.

By the afternoon of September 12, laboratory results were available. Two of the five samples tested positive for E. coli at concentrations above the federal safe‑drinking‑water standard of 0.1 colony‑forming units per milliliter. The most recent readings indicated 1.2 cfu/mL, which is more than ten times the threshold that triggers a public‑health intervention.

“We had to act quickly because the presence of E. coli in recreational water is a direct indicator of fecal contamination and can lead to severe health issues—especially for children, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems,” said Dr. Lisa Morgan, MCDPH’s Director of Environmental Health. “Our priority is to protect the community and to identify the source of the contamination so we can prevent future incidents.”

Immediate Actions Taken

The MCDPH issued a public‑health notice on the county website and placed “Do Not Use” signs around the pond. The county has closed the entire pond area, including the picnic tables, playground, and hiking trail that encircles the water. The MCDPH has also ordered a temporary suspension of fishing in the pond and instructed local anglers not to consume any fish caught there.

“We are coordinating with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to enforce the closure and to ensure that all recreational use of the pond is halted until the water is verified to be safe,” explained County Commissioner Mark Hales. “Safety first. We’re giving our residents a chance to avoid exposure while we figure out what went wrong.”

In addition, the county’s emergency management office is distributing flyers to local schools, churches, and community groups outlining the health risks and urging parents to keep their children away from the pond area.

Possible Sources of Contamination

The county has not yet identified a definitive source for the E. coli contamination, but preliminary investigations suggest a combination of recent heavy rainfall and agricultural runoff. Over the past week, McLean County experienced two days of rainfall exceeding 1 inch, causing the creek to swell and overflow its banks. According to the U.S. Geological Survey’s real‑time stream‑flow data, Myer Creek’s flow peaked at 380 cubic feet per second on September 8—well above the park’s typical 200‑cfs threshold.

“We’re also looking at the nearby farmland to the south of the park,” said Dr. Morgan. “Livestock operations in that area use manure lagoons, and the storm runoff may have carried bacteria into the creek.”

The county’s environmental health unit is currently coordinating with the Illinois Department of Agriculture to review manure management practices within a 2‑mile radius of the park. They are also deploying sediment sampling equipment to evaluate the creek’s banks and the pond’s bottom for potential bacterial buildup.

What Residents Should Do

The public‑health notice specifically advises:

1. Avoid all contact with pond water – no swimming, wading, or accidental ingestion.
2. Do not consume fish from the pond until the water is declared safe.
3. Wash hands thoroughly after contact with any surface that may have been contaminated.
4. Report any gastrointestinal illness (diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps) that began after visiting the park to the county’s health hotline at 555‑123‑4567 or via the online symptom‑reporting portal on the MCDPH website.
5. Stay informed by checking the county’s official press releases and the IDPH’s alerts.

Dr. Morgan highlighted that the risk of infection is low for healthy adults but can be severe for vulnerable groups. “We recommend that pregnant women, infants, and anyone with a weakened immune system stay away from the pond until the water quality has been fully assessed,” she said.

Longer‑Term Remediation Plans

The county’s environmental health unit is developing a remediation strategy that will include:

• Water treatment using chlorination and UV disinfection until baseline E. coli levels are achieved.
• Sediment removal from the pond bottom to eliminate bacterial reservoirs.
• Erosion control along the creek’s banks to reduce future runoff.
• Public education on proper manure handling for nearby farms to prevent recurrence.

MCDPH officials have announced a community town‑hall meeting on September 25 at the McLean County Community Center. The meeting will discuss the investigation’s progress, potential cleanup costs, and any funding mechanisms—such as state grants or federal assistance—available to support the remediation efforts.

Context and Historical Perspective

Myer Creek Park has been a beloved local destination for more than two decades. The park’s 12‑acre pond was originally built in 1998 as part of a countywide effort to create green spaces for residents. In 2012, a state grant allowed for the construction of a new playground and a paved trail that attracts about 5,000 visitors per month, according to the county’s recreational usage surveys.

This isn’t the first environmental health issue in the county. In 2021, a separate incident involving lead contamination in the McLean County Reservoir prompted the closure of that water source for several weeks. The reservoir issue was traced to aging piping and a failure of a filtration system; the county successfully replaced the pipe and installed a new filter, restoring safe drinking water in time for the next summer season.

County’s Commitment to Transparency

County officials have committed to keeping residents informed throughout the investigation. The MCDPH will post daily updates on the county’s official website, and the press office will provide briefings to local media. “We know how much the park means to the community, and we’re working as fast as we can to get it back to a safe, healthy place,” said Commissioner Hales.

Residents can access the official public‑health notice and the latest updates via the county’s portal: [ https://www.mcleancounty.gov/health/press-releases/2025-09-19-MyerCreekPublicHealthWarning.pdf ]. They are also encouraged to follow the county’s social‑media accounts for real‑time announcements.

In Summary

McLean County’s public‑health warning for Myer Creek Park follows E. coli detections that pose a real, but manageable, health risk. By closing the pond, suspending fishing, and engaging a comprehensive investigation, county officials aim to protect residents while determining the contamination’s source. The county’s long‑term strategy includes water treatment, sediment removal, and improved runoff control. Community members are urged to heed the warning, report symptoms, and participate in upcoming town‑hall discussions as the county moves toward restoring the park’s safety and enjoyment for all.