Naperville news today: Centennial Beach closed amid death investigation at 500 West Jackson Avenue, park district says

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (WLS) — A west suburban beach is closed to the public on Friday amid an ongoing death investigation.

The water is still at Naperville’s Centennial Beach after a 27-year-old man was found unresponsive early Thursday evening.

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Footage from the location captures a gathering of young individuals, as well as law enforcement, situated before the entrance of the beach on Thursday. The gates have since been shut and secured.

Not much is known about what happened in the moments leading up to the discovery.

The Naperville Park District says the 27-year-old was found unconscious in the water around 6 p.m.

That is when first responders rushed him to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

“I was taken aback,” expressed Scott Baker, a resident of Naperville. “This area is significant to the community. I stroll by here daily due to the river walk and the pathway.”

Baker says he grew up coming to Centennial Beach. He pointed out his concerns with the floating piers, which, he said, people can swim under.

Baker said the tragic news of the death is simply shocking.

“I see what they put their lifeguards through. They put them through the paces, so I don’t know what happened,” Baker said.

The DuPage County Coroner’s Office has not yet identified the man who died.

ABC7 reached out the Naperville Park District for comment on when the beach will reopen, but did not immediately hear back.

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