CHICAGO, IL (April 18, 2013) – North Park University so far has suffered no damage from rising waters of the north branch of the Chicago River, but did cancel classes this morning due to closures of primary roads leading to the school and dangers of potential flooding, said Nate Mouttet, vice president for enrollment and marketing.

Some campus facilities, including the Helwig Recreation Center and Brandel Library, remained open.

According to the school’s weather station, 3.8 inches of rain had fallen on the campus since 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. More than five inches had drenched parts of Chicago, and traffic was snarled throughout the city during the morning commute.

Police had blocked off parts of Lawrence and Foster avenues in the morning due to flooding, which made getting to the school particularly difficult, said Mouttet.

Information will continue to be updated on the North Park website.

Flooding in September 2008 caused the school to evacuate students and led to more than $2 million in damage. Extensive improvements were made to the riverbank beginning in the summer of 2009.

The work included terracing the bank from Magnuson Center to the footbridge. The footbridge also was reconstructed. “It has improved our situation,” Mouttet said.

The university worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to study the needs and approve the plans.

Editor’s note: Photo courtesy of Doug Swanson-Nystrom