READING, Pa. – A head-first creek dive is something Reading Mayor Eddie Moran wants to deter.
“We want to follow the rules and regulations that the City of Reading has,” Moran said.
Mayor Moran, along with Reading Chief of Police Elias Vazquez and fellow officers, met with Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk today at Allentown’s Cedar Beach Pool to stress that people stay out of natural waterways and head to public pools instead this summer.
Each city has ordinances prohibiting swimming or bathing in creeks and waterways, but officials say a social media splash has led to an influx of people, especially at Reading’s Riverfront Park, nicknamed “Penske Beach.”
The area has been inundated with complaints of illegal swimming, trash, loud noise and civil disobedience.
Moran says fines for swimming in Reading waterways can be as high as $300 dollars.
“This is not an opportunity for Reading to generate money. The purpose of this is to educate our community,” Moran explained.
The mayor says Reading City Council has approved increased funds for more monitoring of natural waterways by police.