Water Safety Leaders Advance New Jersey’s Drowning Prevention Efforts at Garden State Summit 3.0

More than 100 water safety experts, advocates, and community leaders gathered at the East Brunswick Community Arts Center on December 11, 2025, for the Garden State Water Safety Summit 3.0, a collaborative effort to tackle New Jersey’s drowning crisis and advance the state’s goal of reducing drownings by 30% by 2030.

A Collaborative Approach to Water Safety

Organized by the New Jersey Swim Safety Alliance with support from the New Jersey Recreation and Park Association and The ZAC Foundation, the summit brought together New Jersey Assembly members Alixon Collazos-Gill, Mike Inganamort, and Sean Kean alongside law enforcement, first responders, aquatics professionals, lifeguards, beach and lake community officials, Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCAs, municipal parks and recreation departments, and industry leaders.

Participants engaged in presentations and work groups focused on increasing access to swim lessons for all and promoting safe swimming environments across the state. The discussions built on New Jersey’s comprehensive water safety strategy, which was developed with input from more than 200 stakeholders statewide and launched in June 2025.

Honoring Water Safety Heroes

The summit also recognized individuals and organizations whose quick actions saved lives:

Lavallette Beach Patrol for rescuing 20 kids from an ocean sandbar collapse
West Long Branch Police OfficerDavid Brosonski for rescuing a boy from an icy lake
Conrail employees Paul Clawges and Barry Sanders for saving a man from floodwaters in Piscataway
Lifeguard Bob McIntosh for his quick response after a man hit his head in a diving board incident at Summit Family Aquatic Center

With drowning continuing to claim lives across New Jersey, the summit reinforced the critical need for coordinated, community-level prevention efforts.