New York City Mayor Eric Adams and NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue announced an arbitration panel's decision that will enable the city to hire more lifeguards by modifying qualifications for shallow water pools and modernizing vision requirements. This move aims to increase swimming capacity at beaches and pools, improve lifeguard operations, and address staffing challenges exacerbated by the pandemic. The agreement also includes a pay raise and retention bonus for lifeguards, enhancing recruitment and retention efforts.
The City of Arlington in Texas has closed all public splash pads and pools after a water sample from a splash pad detected the possible presence of a rare brain-eating amoeba called Naegleria fowleri. The city's drinking water supply is unaffected, and there have been no reports of illness linked to the finding. Arlington is working with the Environmental Protection Agency to confirm the presence of the amoeba. The risk of infection is extremely low, but the city has implemented additional safety protocols and upgrades to ensure the safety of its aquatics facilities.
A nationwide lifeguard shortage may cause hundreds of pools and beaches to close this summer, with over half of them seeing closures or reduction in hours. The shortage grew during the pandemic when pools and beaches were closed and lifeguards found work elsewhere. The risks of the job, a seasonal schedule that only pays during warmer months, and a lifeguard's responsibility for saving someone else’s life play factors in the staffing shortage. The American Lifeguard Association recommends checking your local beach or pool website to make sure they are fully staffed with lifeguards before heading out for fun.
Due to a shortage of lifeguards, some beaches and pools in Seattle have been closed for safety reasons. The city is struggling to find enough qualified lifeguards to fill the positions, leading to reduced hours and closures at some locations. Officials are urging anyone interested in becoming a lifeguard to apply as soon as possible.
New York City is facing its worst lifeguard shortage on record, with fewer than 500 lifeguards ready to work, roughly a third of the number needed to fully staff beaches and pools this summer. The shortage is partly due to a bitter fight between the city and the unions that represent lifeguards, who control all lifeguard operations, down to determining who qualifies to work each summer. The shortage also stems from perennial issues like low salaries, a difficult qualifying test, and a pandemic-induced slowdown of the lifeguard pipeline.
Some areas of New York City's beaches and parks will be closed this summer due to construction, including sporadic closures of Rockaway beaches. The city's 48 outdoor pools will open on June 29, but staffing shortages may affect access to swimming. Several city-owned pools, both indoor and outdoor, will also be closed for renovations. The arch and fountain at Grand Army Plaza will be closed for the season due to restoration work. The parks department publishes updates online about construction-related closures to open spaces.
