Franklin Township continues to mull strategies to alleviate traffic problems at Beltzville State Park.

About 20 people attended Tuesday’s session, including representatives from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Ben Monk, manager of Beltzville State Park.

Board Chairman Fred Kemmerer Jr. explained that the goal of the meeting was to attempt to come up with a short-term solution to make it the best they can for this upcoming season.

Kemmerer said right now they are dealing with an overabundance of traffic that needs to be addressed, and added that DCNR has been doing an excellent job.

Supervisor Robin Cressley said Beltzville isn’t the only state park to face similar issues, but added that the township could be a step ahead of the rest.

Resident Steve DeLello, who lives near Beltzville, offered several suggestions, including taking violators to the district magistrate, which would hit their pocketbooks.

“I would volunteer my time on a Saturday morning,” DeLello said. “I’d be more than happy to write out tickets.”

Another resident said he believes “we’re dealing with people who have bad habits.”

Township police Chief Jason Doll said that while those were all good ideas, his primary concern is the safety of those coming to and leaving from the park.

Doll said that ever since COVID, more and more families have decided to visit state parks such as Beltzville, which has resulted in large influx of people.

Kevin Christman of Towamensing Township said the issue is a “two-township problem.”

Kemmerer said the safety of Pohopoco Drive is the most important thing.

One resident noted there’s a lot of out-of-state traffic coming into the park, and asked if there’s been any consideration about adding a toll booth to discourage people from coming, as Mauch Chunk Lake Park has a toll booth.

Doll discussed creating staging zones, but that they all come with their own pros and cons.

Kemmerer said that any decisions that are made must be contingent on the township’s budget, as the township doesn’t want a temporary fix.

Regardless of the decision, Kemmerer said the township would not impact the pockets of township residents.

Win Hoglen of Towamensing Township said he believes the root cause is what actually transpires in the park, and referenced alcohol, drug paraphernalia, and drunken drivers on the roads.

“Do not allow them to park on the roads,” Hoglen said. “We’re encouraging this bad behavior.”

Hoglen questioned why he, as a taxpayer, can’t sit in his backyard without having to hear the loud music that blares.

“We have to address the real problem, and that’s what’s going on in the park,” he said.

Kemmerer said his main concern is the safety of everyone, and thanked all those who attended.

“This was a very fruitful beginning so we can get to (how) as a township we can address traffic flow,” he said. “We all have to have empathy for each other.”

Last month, state Rep. Doyle Heffley requested a meeting at Beltzville State Park to discuss the traffic problems with the supervisors, Doll, and state park rangers.

Heffley said the biggest concern is what they can do for the traffic at Pohopoco Drive going into the park in the morning because traffic gets backed up while visitors wait at the gate.

Previously, the board held a workshop meeting in August to discuss the traffic situation at the park, where, traffic backs up on Pohopoco Road hours before it opens at 8 a.m.

Officials had two ideas they think could alleviate some of the traffic problems: The first would be to open the park earlier on weekends. The second is instead of cars parking on Pohopoco Road before opening, cars park on the road in the park leading to parking lot B. That road is about 2,400 feet from Pohopoco to the parking lot.

There are no parking signs posted on Pohopoco Road, but they are usually ignored in Franklin and Towamensing townships.