The presumed drowning of a 19-year-old Reading man in the Schuylkill River has some City Council members calling for increased water safety education and more public pools.
The body of Helinson Hernandez was recovered from the river June 29 by rescue personnel.
A week later, Erick Candelario, 41, also of Reading, died in Reading Hospital shortly after his kayak capsized while he paddled on the Schuylkill River.
The river looks so deceptively peaceful but can be dangerous if someone gets caught in a whirlpool, eddy or undertow, Council President Donna Reed said at the July 8 council committee of the whole meeting.
“It looks so beautiful when you see pictures of people waiting in there up to their waists in it,” she said. “But just that quickly, there can be a hole and you can get sucked down.”
Reed asked if there is something the city can do to help spread warnings of the danger.
She is particularly concerned about safety, she said, as the heat wave continues and due to recent closures of Schlegel Park pool and Blue Marsh Lake beach.
The only city-owned-and-operated public pool in Reading, the Schlegel pool was closed Tuesday and Wednesday for leak repairs.
Swimming at the Dry Brooks Day Use Area of Blue Marsh Lake has been restricted due to high bacteria levels.
Without those options, Reed said, she fears more Reading residents will resort to wading and swimming in the river.
Gathering at a river or other body of water is part of the Latino culture, Councilman Jaime Baez Jr. said, noting any attempts at safety education should be undertaken with that in mind.
“I don’t think that people should be vilified for attempting to have a good time with their family,” Baez said. “I believe they need to pick up after themselves, certainly; I believe that there should be security, but the fact that they’re out there, that is something that we have to understand (is part of) the culture as a Latino.”
Reed asked if posting safety tips on social media or assigning a city police officer, firefighter, council member or volunteer to the most heavily used access points or could help.
There are warning signs posted, she said, but noted they may be only in English.
Councilman O. Christopher Miller agreed that a social media campaign might be useful but said having someone on site might not be feasible.
Baez suggested placing markers to cordon off a shallow area of the river for wading to keep people closer to the shore and possibly safer.
He also said he is concerned that the city owns only one public pool, which often reaches capacity on extremely hot days.
In that event, those with annual memberships are given priority entry over daily paying customers.
Reed said several city playgrounds were recently upgraded with splash pads. While the pads at the 11th and Pike, Baer Park, City Park, Front and Schiller and Pendora Park playgrounds are not the same as pools, she said, they do provide opportunities for water play and to cool down.
Reed also noted the Olivet Boys and Girls Club operates a pool on Clinton Street, and the Reading School District has two indoor pools.
The pool in Reading High School’s Ralph C. Geigle Education Complex, 801 N. 13th St., is operational, said Nathan Ross, school district communications director, and hosted the Reading Recreation Commission’s swim camp while the Schlegel pool was closed.
The pool also is used for district programs, including swim and lifeguarding classes, Ross said, and can be rented through the district’s facilities rental policy.
The pool at the Red Knight Accelerated Academy City Line Campus, 1700 City Line Ave., is closed while awaiting repairs.
Source: Berkshire mont