What to Know
- The little girl was found unresponsive shortly after her mother told lifeguards she couldn't find her
- Locals say there are several lifeguards on duty at the park at all times
- Police say the park is reviewing its procedures and policies
A popular New Jersey park was shut down after a 3-year-old girl apparently drowned in the water there Monday.
Authorities say Sienna Maloney's mother told lifeguards at Peaquannock Valley Park she couldn't find her daughter shortly before 4 p.m. that day; lifeguards cleared everyone else out of the water and quickly found the little girl in 3-foot-deep water, unresponsive.
Police were called, and found lifeguards performing CPR on the Pompton Plains child. Maloney was taken to a hospital, where efforts to resuscitate her continued in vain. Police are calling her death a "tragic accident."
Peaquannock Valley Park was closed to facilitate the investigation. Authorities said a re-opening date for the park, which has a swimming lake with a beach, swimming lanes, playground equipment and a picnic area, would be posted on the Parks and Recreation website.
In a statement, police asked residents to keep the family and friends of the little girl in their thoughts and prayers.
A woman who lives a few blocks from the family told NBC 4 New York everyone in town is grieving. She said there are multiple lifeguards on duty at the lake at all times, and the community is confused about how the little girl drowned.
Police say the park is reviewing its procedures and policies.
