Huge weekend crowd at Starved Rock State Park

Are there some weekends where Starved Rock State Park is too popular?

Conservation Police Sgt. Phil Wire says an estimated 62,000 people visited the park last weekend. At times, especially Sunday, the crowds caused traffic backups on Interstate 80 at the Utica exit. Wire says that had his department doing more traffic control than actual law enforcement.

If the weather holds out, the numbers could be even bigger this weekend with Memorial Day. Wire says parking could really be at a premium if expected rain falls before the holiday weekend. That would take out some of the overflow parking at Starved Rock because of muddy conditions.