Beltzville State Park has made many local headlines this summer.

Frequently full of people looking to enjoy a nice day, the influx of visitors has led to many problems - whether it’s traffic lined up on Pohopoco Drive or lack of social distancing inside the park. But perhaps the biggest issue is that the popular destination is often left trashed on a daily basis.

Connie Bowman, of Lehighton, knew she couldn’t change the state park in Carbon County by herself, but she’s doing everything possible with a little help from her friends.

“I have a passion for Beltzville because of my past,” Bowman said. “I went there during my childhood and then as an adult. It was just such a beautiful area. I stopped going just because of what was happening, which a lot of people around here feel the same way I do.”

Bowman started a Facebook group called “Coming Together to Save Beltzville” and also created a petition on Change.org last week. She kept the petition active for five days and received an overwhelming response of 1,108 signatures.

“I created it and I thought 100 signatures would be cool. I never expected to get that kind of support. I want change. I want them to charge a small fee for entrance. This is all in my petition and everyone that signed my petition obviously felt the same way.”

Bowman hopes that in the future, there will be enhanced security and for coolers to be checked upon arrival.

“If they start cooler-checking, you’re not going to bring in alcohol or have that problem. The more that I saw, the more that I wanted to do something. This has got to stop, my heart just jumped right into it. I just want respect. Take care of our park.”

Pennsylvania state Rep. Doyle Heffley has pushed to allow state parks such as Beltzville to charge admission and parking fees. Last week, Heffley introduced legislation that would allow DCNR to charge admission and parking fees at state parks, similar to a bill he introduced in 2017.

“Many of my colleagues are now seeing the same issues at their state parks that we’ve been seeing at Beltzville for years,” Heffley said. “We just have to look at a better way to manage it.”

Bowman said that she is in the process of printing out 52 pages of signatures and writing letters to the DCNR and Army Corps of Engineers.

“It’s been said that in New Jersey and New York, many parks out of state charge an entrance fee. People come here because it’s free. Do I think it’ll reduce the number of people that come here and do illegal things? I do.”