Philly releases 2022 pool opening schedule amid national lifeguard shortage

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — The City of Philadelphia says it will open 50 pools this summer as the nation deals with an ongoing lifeguard shortage. The number represents 80% of the 63 operating outdoor pools available for use, the city’s Parks and Recreation Department said Friday. The pools will open on a rolling basis beginning Tuesday, June 21.

Twenty-six public pools are scheduled to open by July 4. The 24 remaining pools will open on a rolling basis between July 4 – 15. The city released the following pool opening schedule: Tuesday, June 21 Fishtown Recreation Center Mill Creek Playground Samuel Recreation Center Wednesday, June 22 Barry Playground Lawncrest Recreation Center Penrose Playground Thursday, June 23 Kelly Pool Vogt Recreation Center Pleasant Playground Friday, June 24 Murphy Recreation Center Mitchell Playground Simpson Recreation Center Monday, June 27 Bridesburg Recreation Center Athletic Recreation Center Ford Recreation Center Tuesday, June 28 Awbury Playground Jacobs Playground Wednesday, June 29 Jardel Recreation Center Marian Anderson Recreation Center Max Myers Playground Thursday, June 30 Hancock Playground Kendrick Recreation Center Friday, July 1 Fox Chase Recreation Center Saturday, July 2 American Legion Playground Cione Playground Mander Playground Week of July 4 Hillside Recreation Center Christy Recreation Center J Finnegan Playground Northern Liberties Recreation Center Cherashore Playground CB Moore Recreation Center McVeigh Recreation Center Cobbs Creek Recreation Center Lackman Playground Stinger Square O’Connor Pool Sacks Playground 39th & Olive Playground Lonnie Young Recreation Center Houseman Playground Feltonville Recreation Center Shepard Recreation Center Piccoli Playground Francisville Recreation Center Scanlon Recreation Center Week of July 11 Hunting Park Recreation Center Waterloo Playground Tustin Recreation Center FJ Myers Recreation Center The city says the 2022 pool schedule was “developed based on equity and to maximize residents’ access to pools in every part of the city.

Pools were selected to open based on available staffing, geography, past pool usage data, and neighborhood need. Pool schedules will vary based on available staffing. In neighborhoods with multiple pools, the largest, or most visited pool may open, or nearby pools may operate on a split schedule to maximize community access.

All pools will offer free swim lessons. ” Lifeguard Shortage Around a third to nearly half the nation’s more than 300,000 pools will likely be affected as the summer begins, according to an estimate from Bernard J. Fisher II, director of health and safety of the American Lifeguard Association.

“We definitely have a shortage,” Fisher said. “The worst I’ve ever seen. ” Dwindling interest in lifeguarding is not a new problem, according to some experts, but was exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, when many pools and training sessions were shuttered and many of the young applicants who would normally apply are now choosing retail or restaurant jobs that offer higher pay.

Having unmanned pools can be dangerous or even deadly, Fisher said. To combat the shortage this year, cities across the country have upped their pay, waived training fees and are offering extra cash to bring more applicants through the door. The city of Philadelphia has raised the starting pay to $16/hour and paid the Red Cross certification fee for 16 to 24-year-old applicants.

Other efforts to recruit lifeguards by the Parks and Recreation Department included distributing more than 10,000 flyers across the city and creating a TikTok account. —- The CNN-Wire contributed to this post. Report a correction or typo.