A favorite pastime for many Jim Thorpe area residents is coming under the microscope.

Borough Councilman John McGuire said last week he believes the governing body needs to consider measures to limit access to the borough’s water reservoirs on the east side of town.According to McGuire, who lives a short distance from the reservoirs, the number of people swimming and riding all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles at the site is increasing.“I walk my dogs down there, other people walk their dogs there and I know people have been partying there for their entire lives,” McGuire said. “Twice now, however, I’ve filled my recycle bin with bags full of crap. On Labor Day, there were two families down there with a fire going. I think we are going to have a liability issue with more and more people going there.”The reservoirs are located in the vicinity of Jim Thorpe High School and the Mauch Chunk Rod and Gun Club.Recently, it hasn’t only been locals using the grounds for their own recreation as McGuire has stopped people from Philadelphia.“Now we’re seeing people who are not local and with all of the social media we have now, word of these spots continues to spread,” he told council.Councilman Jay Miller said one solution is to breach the dam, which would drain the reservoir and keep people from swimming.Jim Thorpe hasn’t used the aboveground water in years, he said.“It will cost a lot of money to get the equipment up there, but there wouldn’t be a whole lot of work to it,” Miller said. “I’m just telling you we don’t need that water, so that is an option.”Having hunted on the mountain for 50 years, resident Ed McArdle said he never saw a “No Swimming” sign posted there.Two boys, 11 years old and 14 years old, drowned in the reservoir in 1941 after falling through thin ice, according to archived reports.While the property is posted “No Trespassing,” Miller agreed that maybe the borough has to be more specific.“These days you have to spell everything out as to what you can and can’t do.”While he admits the area isn’t intended for camping or fires, Councilman Curtis Jackson said the borough shouldn’t be so quick to shut it off to everyone.“I would bet 97 percent of people who go there are local,” Jackson told his fellow council members. “It’s not just council’s land to shut down, it’s public land. All of you went there for years and did all of the things you’re talking about tonight.”Council took no official action, but intends to keep the issue on its radar.