Sections of Prairie Park, south of Lincoln Highway, remain taped off from the public as the Antinette “Toni” Keller death investigation continues.

This section includes half of the frisbee golf course on Pearl Street, holes six through nine, back into the woods. Despite the warmer temperatures today, only a small number of people ventured to the park.

Kishwaukee College student Aaron Merritt, 23, said that while it is an inconvenience, he is not surprised that the area would be closed off.

“It’s understandable,” Merrit said. “It’s been that way for a couple of days now.”

Merrit and his friend, Dimitrios Kremmidas, 21, of Tinley Park, said they try to make it out to the frisbee golf course a couple of times a week, and the restrictions haven’t really slowed them down.

“Back in the woods, there are some pretty secluded areas that could be dangerous,” Kremmidas said. “We don’t really go back there though. It’s the ideal place to commit a crime.”

Other DeKalb residents said they felt less comfortable about going back to the park anytime soon.

Lifelong DeKalb resident Kristine Collin said she and her sister, Alene Fagan, used to explore Prairie Park when they were kids.

She said her mother would warn them about talking to strangers.

Fagan said they would see homeless people sleeping there, and it wasn’t uncommon to find groups of people camping in the wooded area.

“You would see the leftover beer bottles and places where they had bonfires,” Collin said. “You knew there were people there.”

Collin and Fagan said these days they have been accustomed to taking their children to the park to walk the paths. The last time they walked through the area was about a month ago.

The sisters, who grew up down the street from the park, said they never felt uncomfortable walking around the area, but now things have changed.

“Personally, I feel violated,” Collin said. “This is our park.”

Fagan said she is hesitant about coming back to the park, even after the investigation is over.

“Considering the area is taped off and heavily occupied by police now, it’s probably the safest place in the world,” Merrit said. “It’s not like the person responsible would return.”