Three days after the re-opening of Prairie Park, the location where DeKalb Police found burned human remains, the wooded area south of Lincoln Highway was almost desolate.

A portion of Prairie Park was closed off to the public from Oct. 21 to Oct. 28 during the Antinette “Toni” Keller investigation.

Just eight people were seen either walking or biking down the trail in the course of an hour Sunday afternoon.

“You used to see 50 to 60 people on a day like today walking dogs or walking with their children,” said a DeKalb man who has lived in the area for more than 50 years.

The DeKalb resident, who was biking through Prairie Park on Sunday and asked for his name not to be used, looked to his left and right down the path and noted its emptiness.

“You don’t hear any dogs, anybody, anything,” he said. “[The homicide investigation] has obviously taken its toll here.”

He said he believes people may still feel the park is closed.

The DeKalb resident said he still feels safe riding his bike after the developments in the Keller case.

“I have lived here all my life and don’t feel unsafe,” he said. “Something like that could happen anywhere.”

Though he said he doesn’t feel there is anything wrong with the park, the DeKalb resident said he could see why the unpaved paths that branch out from the main trail could be an issue for safety.

“I certainly wouldn’t want my daughter walking down there,” he said.

The many unpaved trails, which lead away from the paved path about every 50 feet, are narrow sections of matted grass that lead through areas of low hanging branches into denser areas of the woods. Many lead to the banks of Kishwaukee River, which runs through Prairie Park.

The only audible noises in the park on the quiet Sunday afternoon were wind through tall grasses, bird calls and the hum of traffic outside the park’s perimeter. The frequent roar of freight trains on tracks adjacent to the park muted all other sounds.

DeKalb resident Chris Conine, who was walking the main trail alone, said he felt OK to be in the park after the human remains were found.

“I still feel safe,” Conine said. “I was walking out here right before [Keller’s disappearance was reported].”

DeKalb resident Dave Klenke, who was walking with another person on the path, also said the trail seemed empty but thought it may have been because of attendance at the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival Parade on Sunday.

“There’s less people [here] than usual on a day like this,” he said.