NO WARNING
Park where teen drowned has no signs prohibiting swimming
HAMILTON » When Marty Barchue and three of his friends jumped in the water at Roebling Park, there were no signs indicating that they couldn’t swim.
Moments later, the 17-year-old Hamilton West High School student would be swept away by a strong current and drown in Rowan Lake.
On Thursday morning, authorities recovered Barchue’s lifeless body after he went missing the previous day.
A tour of the Hamilton park by a Trentonian reporter on Friday revealed that none of the nine different signs in Roebling indicate whether swimming is permitted or prohibited. In fact, the term “swimming” is never mentioned in any of the signs.
But at the entrance of the park, a large green sign outlines that alcohol, ATVs, dirt bikes, weapons, hunting, dumping and littering are prohibited in Roebling.
Other signs prohibit paintballing and fires while another one titled “Wildlife Safety Zone,” documents that hiking, photography and nature study are permitted.
Dog waste is also frowned upon in the park as a “threat to the health of our children,” a sign reads.
The only sign that makes reference to the water is a “Tidal Delaware River” sign, letting visitors know “a host of safety challenges for motor, sail and paddle craft.” It warns boaters to be aware of the changing tide and instructs them to “wear a life jacket at all times.”
Again, no mention of swimming.
The Mercer County Park Commission, which runs the park, indicates on its website under “Rules & Regulations” that “swimming is prohibited in any body of water” at its parks.
Asked why there are no signs at Roebling Park disclosing that swimming is prohibited, county spokeswoman Julie Willmot said “this is not a swim area.” “There are no ‘welcome swimmers’ signs, there are no buoys or lane markers indicating a safe area to enter the water,” Willmot said Friday in an email. “The signage makes it clear that these are ‘tidal Delaware’ waters. No swimming is permitted, and there are no lifeguards for that very reason.”
Rowan Lake is connected to Crosswicks Creek, which is a tributary of the Delaware River.
Barchue vanished from the body of water directly off the path in the park.
One of the boys who was swimming with Barchue spoke with the media after leaving the area about how the horrific scene unfolded.
“And the current was so heavy, it took him,” Jarod Tatarek told 6ABC. “I reached out to try to grab him ... but since the current was so strong, it took him away from my hand. And he went down, and he was going down, coming up, gasping for air. And then he went around the corner, I lost the sight of him, the current was so heavy.”
Tatarek said in his interview with the TV media outlet that Barchue, a sophomore at Hamilton West High School, did not know how to swim.
“He didn’t know how to swim and maybe he shouldn’t have gone in, we shouldn’t have gone in,” Tatarek acknowledged in his interview with 6ABC.
According to the park commission’s website, visitors can fish, kayak and hike at Roebling Park.
“I can’t imagine how difficult this must be for the family and friends of Marty Barchue,” Willmot said. “At this time, the county’s thoughts are with his loved ones as they try to cope with this tragic accident.”