After being closed the past two weekends, a popular spot in House Springs has reopened. Rockford Beach Park on the Big River was shut down after concerns over violence, safety and a drowning.
Jefferson County Sheriffs' Department spokesman Grant Bissell said since Memorial Day, weekend deputies had responded to a variety of issues, including fighting, stealing, unlawful use of weapons and underage drinking. A 41-year-old St. Louis man drowned after cliff jumping into the river over the July 4th holiday. Three weeks later, a man was rescued after he got stuck on a rock shelf above some rapids.
"Just about every year, we have at least one drowning, despite all the signs that warn people not to swim or wade in the Big River there," Bissell said. "But this year, there has been a little bit more troublesome activity."
With the reopening comes a new protocol: there will now be a sheriff’s deputy on site during peak hours. Authorities say overcrowding has led to the recent problems, so even though Rockford Beach Park will be open dawn to dusk, the deputy could turn away people if there too many visitors at once.