The DeKalb Park District has increased safety and security measures at Prairie Park and will add additional informational signs in response to community safety concerns.

The DeKalb community has expressed concern about the safety of Prairie Park in light of the Antinette “Toni” Keller investigation, said Cindy Capek, DeKalb Park District Executive Director.

Burned human remains were found Oct. 16 near items believed to be Keller’s in Prairie Park.

Capek said park district employees inspect the park weekly. They look for trash, damaged property, cut-down trees, safety hazards or anything out of the norm.

The scope of the inspections has increased to include more dense areas of the park, Capek said.

Also, signs stating the hours of Prairie Park will be posted at each of its entrances, Capek said. Prairie Park is closed from dusk to dawn.

The Park Board decided on these measures during a Nov. 18 meeting, its first meeting since Keller was reported missing Oct. 15.

Capek said the park district security committee meets once a week and inspects every park twice a year.

“Safety is part of our culture, not just a reaction to a situation,” she said.

Capek said in terms of other safety measures, Prairie Park would be impossible to light because it is 80 acres of natural woods. She also said it wouldn’t make sense to clear the park because that goes against its purpose as a resource for the community.

Members of the park district met with representatives of DeKalb Police and the City of DeKalb to make sure they were comfortable with the safety change recommendations presented to the board, Capek said.

To increase safety, DeKalb Police Chief Bill Feithen said he would like to see more park district presence monitoring Prairie Park. DeKalb Police officers patrol Prairie Park routinely, he said, but people also need to remain aware of their own personal safety.

“The best thing that can happen is for everyone to keep in mind the everyday kind of personal safety suggestions they hear from law enforcement…and the media,” Feithen said.

Feithen said Keller’s alleged murder was an unusual occurrence and the parks in DeKalb are generally safe.

“[We’ve had] very few incidences in all our parks historically,” Capek said.