Officials warn against swimming in restricted areas this summer

The extreme heat in New Jersey is causing some people to look for places to cool off. And sometimes this might be by going to places where swimming is prohibited.

There have been over a dozen drownings in New Jersey this summer. Swimming in some quarries, reservoirs, lakes or ponds is not allowed because of safety. Other places are off-limits altogether.

Woodland Park officials know this situation firsthand.

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A few months ago, a 15-year-old from Paterson drowned in the deep waters of the Great Notch Reservoir. Swimming is not allowed at that reservoir. Several local and county first responders from neighboring towns were part of that search.

Woodland Park Mayor Keith Kazmark says that the town has made efforts since that drowning to ensure residents and visitors are not swimming where they shouldn’t.

“We have increased police patrols…to make sure that we don't have kids in these areas that are unsafe to swim,” the mayor says.

There was a large police presence at a reservoir in Morris County on Tuesday for reports of a drowning. This ended up being a false alarm.