The Rockford Beach park along the Big River in House Springs will again be closed this weekend due to an influx of visitors from the St. Louis area, which has made it difficult for local first responders to provide services to the area, the Jefferson County Parks Department announced today, July 14.
The park closed this morning and will remain closed until 8 a.m. Monday morning, July 17, Jefferson County Parks and Recreation director Tim Pigg said.
Normal hours are dawn to dusk daily.
Pigg said “a lot of moving parts” across the county led to the decision to close the park last weekend and again this weekend.
He said right now county officials plan to decide week by week whether to close the park. However, Pigg said he plans to meet this afternoon with two County Council members; County Executive Dennis Gannon; Jefferson County Administrator Tracey Perry; Jefferson County Sheriff Dave Marshak; High Ridge Fire Chief John Barton; and representatives from two ambulance districts to discuss the future of the park.
The closures follow on the heels of the latest drowning at the park, which occurred after 41-year-old Hamsa Mohamed of St. Louis jumped on July 2 from a bluff into the creek and disappeared under the water. His body was found the next day.
“Since Memorial Day weekend, sheriff’s deputies have responded to the park for various issues, including fights and physical disturbances, stealing, unlawful use of a weapon, assaults, underage drinking, and a drowning,” the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said in a written statement. “With recent large crowds, law enforcement, EMS, and fire agencies have been unable to adequately provide security and support.”
Once the parking lot is full, visitors begin to park along the entrance road and on the shoulder of Hwy. W, according to the Sheriff’s Office statement.
“Emergency response vehicles have been restricted from entering and leaving the park by illegally parked and excess vehicles,” the statement said. “Should a water rescue or medical support be needed, responders wouldn’t be able to launch a boat from the overcrowded access.”
Pigg said “lots of ideas are being floated around” to ensure the park is safe.
“We want to reduce the number of visitors, but still keep it open for the public,” he said.
Pigg said the Parks and Recreation Department is considering changing the hours for all of the county parks, but no final decisions have been made.
According to the Jefferson County Parks and Recreation website, the Big River is a swift-moving stream and is not recommended for swimming or wading. Signs are posted at Rockford Beach warning people against swimming there.