With a sign “Rules for ‘The Rock'” posted on his motorcycle, Hamburg resident Phil Kissinger waited outside the closed Tilden Township Building while officials, police and Department of Environmental Protection met behind closed doors to discuss ‘The Rock’ on July 29.
“We’re all locals and we’re just tired of our town being disrespected,” said Kissinger, referring to the crowds of people jumping off ‘The Rock’ and swimming in the Schuylkill River on the Berks and Schuylkill county border in Tilden and West Brunswick townships.
“Everything’s a party and a free for all for them. They don’t have any regard for what it is doing to our town,” said Kissinger.
Kissinger said a group of them ride regularly on motorcycles. On Port Clinton Avenue there are cars in the middle of the curvy road.
“It’s just unsafe and it’s disrespectful,” he said.
“It’s getting out of hand and we’re just looking to reconcile something,” said Steve Heim, Hamburg. “The trash is getting absurd. They bring it in. Why can’t they take it out with them? Instead they just dump it on the ground.”
Heim, a tow truck driver for VJ Wood Towing, has been out two to three times a day towing vehicles parked on the roadway of Port Clinton Avenue.
“They’ll park in the middle of the road and wonder why they got towed,” he said, noting that it is illegal to park, even just two wheels, on the lane of travel, which means many parked on the hillside instead.
Jasper Jalbert, Hamburg, said they were there to voice their concerns for the local community and find out about who is responsible for monitoring the area of ‘The Rock.’ He wants to know what can be done to address the trash and safety concerns.
“It’s a disrespect not only to the locals but to the land,” said Jalbert. “It’s just a matter of time until we get a couple of good rainstorms … and that trash washes down river that’s on the river banks… There’s no bathrooms so people are just defecating on the river banks.”
Rep. Jerry Knowles organized the July 29 meeting, which was closed to the public and media. After about an hour and a half of discussions behind closed doors, the majority of officials and police left. Knowles, DEP representatives and Tilden Township Police Chief William J. McEllroy III spoke with media and a group of residents.
“It was a very productive meeting,” said Knowles. “The issues of trash, parking, public safety and drinking and drugs was brought up, was discussed in great detail. There will be follow up in terms of the law enforcement, as well as our public safety folks, our emergency responders as well as DEP.”
“It is Commonwealth property out there,” said Jeff Means of DEP. “I think a lot of people are misinformed. It’s not a state park. When folks go out there, there are trespassing issues and access issues.”
Means said they are looking at how to limit access. He said Blue Mountain Wildlife Inc., who they have a partnership with, has access. There are hiking trails open to the public also.
“This is not a state park. People should not be using it,” said DEP Chief of Council Alex Chiaruttini, attorney, referring to ‘The Rock’ and the land along the river.
“You can float down the river like you can anywhere in Pennsylvania,” said Chiaruttini, noting that the water is a public area. “You can float through this property on the river.”
Chiaruttini clarified, “You should not be going onto this property from the land and accessing the river.”
“It’s trespassing,” said Chiaruttini.
The Rock and the beach along the river is not open to the public, she said.
Means said no trespassing signs have been posted numerous times. At the start of every season each year, signs are posted and almost immediately the signs are ripped down. DEP is looking for a more permanent method to post no trespassing. Until no trespassing signs are posted, police cannot enforce it.
“We’re looking at the short term and long term answers to see if we can fix the problems that are out there,” he said.
Means said the purpose of the meeting was to partner with local officials and police to share ideas for solutions.
They could not discuss any of those ideas at this time, and they could not give a time frame as to when solutions will be put into action.
Police will be present, said McEllroy.
“There were all manner of suggestions that were talked about at this meeting,” said McEllroy. “That’s why it was a very productive meeting… Now DEP is going to have to go back and look at what is feasible and what is best for that property.”
Residents had a chance to speak and ask questions.
Heim told DEP, Knowles and McEllroy, “It’s outrageous what’s going on back there.”
“Last Sunday when that young man passed away, there’s a high possibility that if EMS and fire personnel would have made it through there in time without being blocked, there’s a possibility he’d still be here.”
“Something needs to change,” said Heim.
“Once the areas are clarified of where it is no trespassing, then it will be enforced and we’ll get the word out about that,” said McEllroy. “But that’s not something that’s going to happen over night. Once we get clarification on that and we’ll be moving forward, all your issues you discussed, very important, and they were discussed at length in this meeting by various persons.”
“I don’t think that anybody in their right mind could say there’s not problems there. Those problems need to be addressed,” said Knowles. “You’ve got people dieing. There’s all kinds of trash. There’s drinking. There’s drugs. There’s parking. There’s public safety issues. And they need to be addressed.”
Knowles said those attending the meeting were local and state police, various local government agencies and environmental groups.
“There were people who recognize the need of having to do something. It has progressively gotten worse and it needs to be resolved,” said Knowles. “Something is going to be done. There are problems that are going to be resolved.”
Residents there said they want to help, too.
Knowles said those who wish to volunteer can contact Tilden Township at 610-562-7410.
