ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - After two drownings last year at Rockford Beach Park in Jefferson County, the county council is considering an amendment that would drop "beach" from the name.
High Ridge Fire Chief John Barton told KMOX that the park had a rise in popularity following COVID.
"I've heard people driving from as far as Indiana in order to come visit Rockford Beach," Barton said. "If you look it up online, you know, the pictures look great, so it's definitely an appealing place."
Barton said the last two drownings were people that were out of town, and believes they were unfamiliar with the water.
"I would say there's probably more people that say they're visiting from out of the area than there are, you know, the local people that are coming down here to fish," Barton said.
Barton noted that people may just Google the word "beach" to locate the park, and that could be cause for the influx in visitors. Signs are posted around the park, warning visitors of the swift undercurrent the Big River has at Rockford.
The County Council's amendment to remove the word "beach" from the park name is Monday. The amendment says nothing about banning "swimming" at the park.