Thirsty fields of grass and browning landscapes quickly absorbed small puddles of water, soaking in the relief of rainfall after months of extreme, dry heat.

Drops of rain saturated the soil and cooled the air with temperatures down to the mid 60’s, Monday afternoon. Not exactly ideal conditions for a day at the park but this is the kind of weather the people at the Palatine Park District have been waiting for.

This summer’s scorching heat mixed with a serious lack of rain sparked concerns of grass fires in public parks. The dangerously dry conditions prompted the Park District to put an emergency burn ban in effect, prohibiting fires and smoking in all public parks. The ban also limits those with park permits to grill at only designated grill locations and advices people to use caution when necessary.

While Monday’s rain shower quenched the parks’ thirst, it did not extinguish the Park District’s concerns. “I don’t know how much rain we’re going to get,” said Pat Moser, Palatine Park District superintendent of parks and planning. “The ban may go out of effect quickly but it’s still in effect right now,” Moser said the ban will stay in effect until further notice.