Visitors continue to overcrowd Beltzville State Park to the point where some pay a neighboring property to park their vehicles so they can traverse the popular destination.

But, that doesn’t sit well with some residents, who took to Facebook recently to voice their concerns after swarms of visitors were seen parking their vehicles on the property.

Sarah Doback posted, “Neighbor at Beltzville charging people to park and walk over to closed Beltzville. Seems a little illegal to me.

“Can’t charge them to use the park, but he can run a business in his yard in a residential area. We don’t want out of towners in our neighborhood, especially during a pandemic.”

The property where cars have been parking is located at the corner of Pine Cove Court and Jefferson Street, according to Franklin Township police Chief Jason Doll.

“It was an issue last year; he did the same thing,” Doll said. “Basically the way I addressed it with the township is I said we really don’t have an ordinance prohibiting it, and that we should possibly look to create an ordinance, and I believe they are looking into it right now.”

Township secretary Brenda Neeb said that while there’s been discussion, nothing has been acted on at this point.

“We haven’t done anything yet; there’s been talk,” Neeb said. “Things being tossed around where the neighbor and the person that was parking the cars was talking to the zoning officer, and she’s looking into the matter.”

Similarly, Doll said the police department received calls for the same reason on the Fourth of July.

“On the Fourth, we did receive a few calls about the individual,” he said. “But, in all reality, we didn’t have any real recourse to stop him from doing what he’s doing until we have an ordinance in place to regulate it.”

Tim Rehrig, who lives on Pine Cove Court northwest of the Beltzville entrance, said he does allow people to park in his yard.

“It is my property,” Rehrig said. “Everybody’s been respectful.”

Rehrig said he isn’t sure what all the fuss is about.

“I guess distant neighbors have an issue with that; my immediate neighbors don’t, not to my knowledge,” he said. “I speak with all land-adjoining neighbors.”

Rehrig said it was the same last year.

“That’s how this started last year; I done this last year and there were no issues,” he said. “I guess now all of a sudden there is.”

Rehrig said that since it’s his property, “I assume that I could continue to do it. I’m not sure that I can; I’m doing some research.”

Rehrig said the area often gets congested with traffic.

“When you look at it at the safety aspect of it, the congestion that you have at Pohopoco from time to time, it could result in a lifesaving matter,” he said. “Sometimes you’ve got congestion where you sit there for minutes, probably up to 10 minutes.”

Rehrig added, “If the issue is garbage along the road, you’re going to have that whether I let them park here or not. I clean up, there’s very minimal garbage. It’s a handful that I picked up over the Fourth of July weekend.

“I don’t know exactly what the problem is, other than it’s jealously, maybe, or if they’re posting videos on Facebook, they may have too much time on their hands.”

Rehrig, who purchased the property in 1992, said he doesn’t understand what the harm is in allowing people to park on his property.

“I consider myself to be a generous person, donating to plenty of organizations,” he said. “I think some of the time spent should be spent on ways to make things better, not complain about people.”

Despite the packed crowds, Beltzville State Park manager Alma Holmes said the park is sticking to the 75 percent occupancy.

“Our 75 percent occupancy takes us partially into our overflow parking,” Holmes said. “It appears that we are going over our occupancy, but we are not.”

The park closed early both days over the Fourth of July holiday weekend due to an overwhelming number of people.