A multitude of concerns about Beltzville State Park linger.

Several residents used Thursday’s Towamensing Township board of supervisors meeting as their platform to express their worries.

Resident Kevin Christman spoke of issues going on with traffic and asked what the plan will be to deal with traffic on Pohopoco Drive once the park reaches capacity.

Board Chairman Guy Seifert told Christman the matter isn’t up to the township.

“This is not in our hands,” Seifert said. “It’s the park service and PennDOT.”

One resident yelled out, “This (issue) started 25 years ago.”

Ben Monk, manager of Beltzville State Park, said the roadblock goes up when the park hits capacity, and the park then remains closed for the rest of the day.

“That’s to prevent people from parking on Pohopoco,” Monk said.

Several residents said they’re outraged that they cannot travel on roadways, or have to take alternate routes, due to the overcrowding.

“We understand the situation,” Seifert said. “There’s nothing we can do about it.”

Seifert said that Beltzville usually gets shut down every year due to high levels of bacteria in the water.

“The problem we have here is assets,” he said. “Unfortunately, that’s where we are right now.”

Seifert said those who travel from far away to come to Beltzville don’t think the way local residents do.

“They have no respect or common sense when it comes to your property,” he said. “It boils down to assets; it’s just a lousy situation.

Other residents suggested possibly closing the park, as well as possibly volunteer service.

It was stated that Pohopoco Drive is a township road, and Christman asked why there are no signs posted.

Monk said the signs are on back order, and that they should be up soon.

Several residents said if the problem continues to persist, they may have no choice but to take things into their own hands.

However, Seifert said that wasn’t the way to go about things.

“That isn’t going to solve the problem,” he said. “Your voice needs to be heard at Harrisburg.”

Franklin Township supervisors are expected to adopt a no-parking ordinance that prohibits vehicles from parking on several roads near Beltzville State Park when it meets at 6:30 p.m. July 20.

In May, several Franklin Township residents expressed concerns over illegal parking and litter issues at the park.

That came after Beltzville announced new measures following a meeting in May with local and state officials and police.

The new rules are aimed at eliminating parking in areas that are unsafe, and parking areas outside the main gates of the park which have been damaged due to overuse.

The biggest changes are limits on parking.

Between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day, weekend parking will be prohibited at the Wild Creek, Christman Trail, Evergreen and Cove Parking areas.

Parking on the soccer fields inside the main gates is now prohibited.

Once the gated day use area reaches capacity, DCNR will close Pohopoco Drive between Pine Run Road and Green Street. Visitors won’t be allowed to walk into the day use area once it is full.

Any buses parking at Beltzville will need prior written permission from the park manager.

More portable toilets, dumpsters and signs with park rules are beginning to be added.

DCNR manages the 2,972-acre park in Towamensing and Franklin townships, including the 949-acre lake on behalf of its owner, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The Army Corps built the dam and lake for flood control along the Lehigh and Delaware rivers.