Sugar Creek Golf Course, both public pools, and The Hub at Berens Park all closed Thursday as wildfire smoke from Canada turned the sky hazy and sent air quality readings into the "very unhealthy" range across the western suburbs.

The Elmhurst Park District announced Thursday, July 16, that it shut down Sugar Creek Golf Course, Smalley Pool, East End Pool, and The Hub at Berens Park until further notice. All outdoor programs, activities, leagues, and events were canceled for the day. Programs that could move indoors were relocated.

The district's closure notice cited an Air Quality Index "well above 200." National Weather Service data reported by the Chicago Tribune put the Chicago-area AQI at 248 Thursday morning, a level classified as "very unhealthy" for the general public on the EPA's 500-point scale. Chicago's north and west suburbs, the region that includes Elmhurst, fell in the same category.

The smoke drifted south from more than 180 active wildfires burning in northern Ontario and parts of Minnesota, according to NASA and the National Weather Service. At 9 a.m. Thursday, Chicago ranked as the fourth most-polluted major city in the world, behind Detroit, Toronto, and Minneapolis, according to Swiss air quality monitoring firm IQAir.

Pop Up Party canceled, outdoor programs on hold

Beyond the facility closures, the Elmhurst Park District canceled Thursday's Pop Up Party in the Park at Butterfield Park. Park district staff said they would contact participants affected by the cancellations directly.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency recommended that people limit physical activity outside when the AQI exceeds 150 and suggested residents close windows and doors.

Villa Park closes Jefferson Pool

Villa Park also closed Jefferson Pool on Thursday, July 16, citing the same hazardous conditions and an active Air Quality Alert. Village staff said they would continue monitoring conditions and provide updates if the closure extended beyond Thursday. Residents with questions can reach the Villa Park Recreation Center at 630-749-3200.

When will facilities reopen?

Neither the Elmhurst Park District nor Villa Park set a specific reopening date. Both agencies said operations would resume once air quality returns to safe levels.

The Elmhurst Park District directed residents to check epd.org, the Rainout Hotline, or the district's social media channels for updates. Villa Park pointed residents to its RainoutLine alerts for the latest on Jefferson Pool and other outdoor programs.