Tilden Township Police Chief William J. McEllroy III reports that 70 people have been cited for defiant trespass at The Rock in Tilden Township.
“Since the closing of the Kernsville Dam Recreational Area by PA DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) on Aug. 25, our department has cited 70 people for Defiant Trespass. This carries a fine of up to $300 plus costs,” reported McEllroy. “Although some are from Pennsylvania, most of them are from out of state.”
This summer, social media had allegedly brought crowds to “The Rock” in Tilden Township. Also, an Allentown man, Essam Saba, 26, drowned while swimming in the Schuylkill River near the Rock.
In response to resident concerns and complaints, officials, police and Department of Environmental Protection met at the Tilden Township Building on July 29.
Since then, no trespassing signs have been posted or reposted along Port Clinton Avenue and in areas of Kernsville Dam Recreation Area.
“We don’t have the masses of people anymore coming to the Rock because they can’t drive back to the Kernsville Dam lot and the north lot. However, we still have smaller groups of people coming to the area and disobeying the signs. Many of the people we have talked to said that they saw the signs but decided to continue to the Rock or dam anyway,” said McEllroy.
He said the numbers of people are more manageable for police.
Trespassers have been cited for defiant trespass.
“No one has had to be taken into custody; they’re just being cited,” he said.
As the weather gets colder, he anticipates they will see fewer and fewer people swimming at the dam and jumping off The Rock.
