Residents To Sound Off On 'Boom Parties' That Plague South Jersey

PALMYRA, NJ — For the second time in three weeks, a representative from the Philadelphia Police Department will visit the area to discuss loud “boom parties” that have been disrupting life in South Jersey for three years.

Capt. John Walker will be in attendance for a meeting concerning the “boom parties” on Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., according to Cinnaminson Police Chief Richard Calabrese. The meeting will be held outside at the Palmyra Harbour Clubhouse, 2000 Harbour Drive in Palmyra.

All residents in impacted areas — which includes Cinnaminson, Palmyra, Delran, Pennsauken, Oaklyn, Westville, Collingswood and Gloucester City — are invited to attend.

The residents in these towns have been kept awake by loud music and drag racing that originates across the river in Philadelphia nearly every night since 2017. It is loudest between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. most nights, and is heard in different towns on different nights.

Because of development on the Philadelphia side and the fact that the water carries the noise across borders, it hasn’t impacted Philadelphia residents at all.

Walker also attended a meeting that took place in Cinnaminson on Oct. 14. He discussed the issue in a meeting that was viewed as progress by some impacted by the noise, while others weren’t as impressed. Read more here: 3 Years Of Noise: ‘Boom Parties’ Disrupt Life In South Jersey

Since that meeting, the noise has continued to plague residents, who have joined a Facebook page to discuss the issue. On Thursday night, it was heard in Gloucester City, while it was heard on Wednesday night in Palmyra and Tuesday night in Pennsauken.

One Haddon Township described the noise as “psychological torture. Walker said Philadelphia Police have been working to stop the issue, but it's not a problem that's going to be fixed overnight. Tuesday’s meeting offers residents a chance to vet their frustrations.