WRIGLEYVILLE — If you want to make it home in Wrigleyville this weekend, be sure to grab a gas bill on your way out the door.
Officials want residents to know that street closures around Wrigley Field during the World Series games this weekend could restrict access to their streets unless they've got proof they live in the neighborhood.
Police and Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) told neighbors to carry photo IDs and proof of residency during Cubs games throughout the postseason.
But with the weekend games likely to bring crowds that exceed the 300,000 in Wrigleyville for the final game of the National League Championship Series, the restrictions will be anything but lax.
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Officials delivered an additional reminder of the restricted access Wednesday, two days before the Chicago Cubs return to Wrigley Field to face the Cleveland Indians in Game 3 Friday, Game 4 Saturday and Game 5 Sunday.
A two-block perimeter around the ballpark will be secured by more than 1,000 police who will be checking ID and proof of residence for neighbors, and confiscating alcohol on sight, Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson said Wednesday.
That total will include hundreds of plainclothes officers, and anyone near the field will be subject to random bag checks.
Police on horseback stand guard at Clark and Waveland early Sunday after the Cubs won the National League title against the Los Angeles Dodgers. [DNAinfo/Ariel Cheung]
No one will be restricted from coming into the neighborhood, but streets will be closed in high-traffic spots, police said Wednesday.
The security perimeter extends from Racine to Halsted and from Newport to Grace, Tunney's office said Wednesday.
But that could be modified at any time at the police department's discretion.
Tunney also warned residents that parking outside the neighborhood is wise, not just due to parking restrictions, but also to avoid vandalism.
While several neighbors said they've had no issues with street closures, not everyone has been so lucky.
One neighbor, who requested anonymity, said she was turned away from walking down Clark Street on Saturday as she attempted to get home to Belmont and Halsted after the Cubs captured the National League title.
The 38-year-old Lakeview resident left Bernie's around 11:30 p.m., waiting a few hours after the game ended in the hopes of navigating through an emptied Wrigleyville.
But when the neighbor showed an officer her driver's license, she still wasn't allowed to walk down the street.
"They at first laughed and said, 'Good luck with that,'" she said Wednesday. "Then they told me I couldn't go down Clark Street and instead suggested walking over to Racine — totally out of the way."
Eventually, the officers let her walk east on Waveland so she could reach Halsted Street.
"I don't think they got the message about letting residents through," she said. With tickets for Friday's game, "I hope I don't run into the same situation trying to get home."
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