US Secret Service prepares to secure Obama Presidential Center Opening Ceremony

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A comprehensive security plan is in place for Thursday's opening ceremony at the Obama Presidential Center, with federal and local law enforcement agencies coordinating efforts to protect attendees, area residents and spectators.

The ceremony has not been designated a National Special Security Event, but the U.S. Secret Service has spent the past six months preparing for it, working in partnership with the Chicago Police Department, Illinois State Police and other agencies.

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Officials say the plan includes a secure perimeter surrounding the Obama Presidential Center, using anti-scale fencing. Authorities will also implement extensive street closures and establish vehicle checkpoints in the surrounding area.

A temporary flight restriction will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday over the site.

The Secret Service confirmed that multiple former presidents and first ladies will attend the ceremony, though officials declined to identify them. Foreign dignitaries, members of Congress, celebrities and other VIPs are also expected.

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Because the ceremony will take place outdoors in a residential area, security planners have had to account for nearby high-rise buildings overlooking the site.

"Every window facing where that ceremony is going to take place presents a potential threat, so that was something that we had to mitigate. We mitigated that utilizing some technical assets as well as some innovative things we came up, specific for the opening there," said Acting Special Agent in Charge James Morley, of the U.S. Secret Service Chicago Field Office.

Morley said officials are balancing security with minimizing the impact on the surrounding community.

"We want to make sure that we're impacting the public as least as possible. We also want to make sure that we're protecting the public, so it's not just the people that are attending the event. It's the neighbors that live in that area, the spectators that are coming out to experience this historic event," he said.

Officials said the Secret Service will also use armored vehicles to transport dignitaries during the event.