Following a year of record attendance, concerns persist over Beltzville State Park with opening day just around the corner.

Resident Kevin Christman asked Towamensing Township supervisors last week if they were interested in shutting down Pohopoco Drive.

Board Chairman Guy Seifert said that was not the case.

“We’re not as a township,” Seifert said. “PennDOT’s got signs in place.”

Seifert noted that Ben Monk, manager of Beltzville State Park, has been a visible presence in the township since taking over the position.

Monk, who attended the meeting, said he’s willing to work with the township to ensure things run as smoothly as possible.

On multiple weekends last summer, parking areas reached capacity, which was capped at 75 percent due to the pandemic.

To further compound matters, visitors parked illegally along Pohopoco Drive, which has been a long-standing problem.

The 949-acre lake attracts people from in and out of the county, along with some out-of-state travelers.

In July, state Rep. Doyle Heffley called for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to limit Beltzville’s day-use areas to Pennsylvania residents only, citing concerns about potential spikes in COVID-19 cases.

People are posting on Facebook about an article detailing all the park has to offer at www.onlyinyourstate.com.

The article states, “A secret tropical beach in Pennsylvania, the water At Beltzville State Park is a mesmerizing blue.”

It adds, “However, be forewarned that the beach, which does not have lifeguards, can get crowded, especially on the weekends.”

The article also notes that other popular activities at the park include mountain biking and wildlife watching, and to visit it in the winter for some cross-country skiing.

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.