Massachusetts DCR again restricts open-water swimming at Walden Pond while lifeguards are on duty

State officers are once more proscribing open-water swimming at one of many area’s hottest leisure our bodies of water.

However at the very least on Sunday, the primary day this season that the swimming guidelines went again into impact at Walden Pond, the Herald noticed some swimmers defying the coverage and traversing the 1/2-mile oasis in Harmony.

Walden Pond State Reservation on Saturday introduced that final yr’s open-water swimming guidelines would return, efficient Sunday. Which means swimming will not be allowed outdoors the world designated by ropes and buoys from 10 a.m. to six p.m. whereas lifeguards are on obligation.

The Massachusetts Division of Conservation and Recreation handed down open-water swimming guidelines at Walden Pond final July within the wake of a collection of drownings throughout the state.

Open-water swimming is barely allowed throughout park working hours when lifeguards should not on obligation, DCR stated in an announcement, stressing the coverage helps be certain that lifeguards maintain their deal with designated swim areas contained in the ropes and buoys. The allowed open-water swimming hours are from 5 to 10 a.m. after which from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Additionally, open-water swimmers should have a brightly coloured swim buoy — a flotation machine that’s connected to swimmers through a strap and helps enhance their visibility.

“Walden Pond is over 100 toes deep in areas and a half-mile in size,” DCR stated. “All swimmers, however particularly Open Water Swimmers, ought to acknowledge that swimming distances in deep water is inherently harmful and should exceed a swimmer’s bodily and psychological limits. Open water swimming is a difficult endurance sport and may by no means be tried by people who haven’t skilled for or ready for the exercise.”

Final summer time, amid a spike of drownings throughout Massachusetts, DCR initially carried out a full open-water swimming ban at Walden Pond.

That ban led to outrage among the many open-water swimming neighborhood. Swimming fans wrote letters to the state and greater than 10,000 signed an internet petition to amend the ban. Additionally, dozens of legislators despatched a letter to the DCR commissioner and Gov. Charlie Baker, asking that the ban get lifted.

Forward of this summer time, DCR is constant to recruit lifeguards. The state elevated the hourly fee for lifeguards to between $21 and $26 relying on place and related certifications; final yr’s beginning charges have been $20 for lifeguards and $21 for head lifeguards. The company can be providing a $500 retention bonus for lifeguards who proceed to work by means of the tip of the season.

“We wish guests to our designated swimming areas to have enjoyable whereas cooling off from the summer time warmth, however we additionally wish to stress security and the significance of taking precautions to maintain your self and your loved ones protected this summer time,” stated Performing DCR Commissioner Stephanie Cooper. “Our lifeguards are a beneficial useful resource, however we additionally depend on the general public to take an lively position in watching their youngsters when they’re within the water, utilizing warning when swimming at unguarded seashores, and using protected swimming practices to keep away from a tragedy.”