Rockford Park regulars hoping to cool off in the Big River are going to be waiting a while. Jefferson County’s council has voted to keep its ban on swimming and wading in place at the House Springs park through April 30, 2027, after a run of drownings and repeated water rescues convinced officials the water is simply too dangerous for casual use. Sheriff’s deputies will be patrolling the area, and new warning signs are expected to be posted before the busy summer season.
As reported by Leader Publications, the council voted 5-2 on April 29 to extend the prohibition on entering the Big River from Rockford Park until April 30, 2027, after local officials noted the site has been the scene of at least seven drownings in the past decade. Councilmen Charles Groeteke and Tim Brown voted against the measure. Councilman Brian Haskins, who has pushed for restrictions at the site, said the ordinance is meant to protect both residents and first responders. The law calls for large, multilingual warning signs and designates sheriff’s deputies as the primary enforcers, with possible citations for people who ignore the rules.
Why officials say the Big River is dangerous
Officials and river experts point to a deteriorating low-head mill dam and the way it squeezes water through a narrow gap, creating powerful undercurrents, whirlpools, and deep scour holes that can trap swimmers, according to reporting by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. That reporting notes the river can look calm on the surface even while hydraulic forces beneath it pull people under. Fire and rescue crews and sheriff’s deputies have repeatedly responded to emergencies at Rockford Park, a pattern county leaders say the extended ban is intended to break.
How the ban will be enforced
County code now explicitly prohibits entering the Big River from Rockford Park for swimming or wading. The ordinance originally included a sunset date of April 30, 2026, according to the Jefferson County ordinance, before the council moved to push that out another year. The county’s Parks and Recreation page also warns visitors that “we do not recommend wading or swimming in the Big River” and lists Rockford Park’s hours and facilities, per the Jefferson County Parks and Recreation site. With no park rangers stationed there, officials say deputies will emphasize signage, education, and targeted patrols, although tickets remain on the table for people who flout the ban.
Dam removal and the long view
County leaders say the only long-term fix is to remove or modify the old mill dam that reshaped the river’s flow in the first place. In December the council approved a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Fish Passage Program to begin remediation work, according to Leader Publications. Project documents and reporting by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch outline a phased effort that could cost roughly $2.5 million and stretch over several years. Supporters say restoring a more natural river flow should reduce the hydraulic traps that have made the spot so hazardous.
KSDK first reported the council’s vote and noted that officials plan to revisit the ban next spring if remediation work and funding move forward. For now, Rockford Park remains open from dawn to dusk for parking, picnicking, and river access for fishing and boating, but county officials are urging visitors to follow the new signs and stay out of the water.
