WORCESTER, MA — Worcester is targeting a July opening date for the city’s four beaches and the Crompton Park pool, but aquatic activities will look a little different for summer 2024.

Worcester has had trouble hiring lifeguards to staff swimming areas in recent years — a period that saw several drownings, although none at city swimming areas proper — and so this summer will use the YMCA of Central Massachusetts for staffing.

“The YMCA will recruit, train, and staff the beaches and pool from the beginning of July until mid-August,” the city said in a news release this week. “The YMCA will use its access to indoor pool facilities and training programs to assist in staffing the program. Additionally, because the YMCA has year-round facilities, the trained lifeguards will be able to transfer into year-round positions at its facilities.”

Rob Antonelli, Worcester’s parks director, told city councilors on Tuesday the department is on track to open swimming areas by July 1. The beaches are located at Bell Hill Park, Coes Pond and two at Indian Lake. Worcester will still manage the city’s two spray parks at East Park and Greenwood Park, plus activities like trash removal and testing water quality.

The state Department of Conservation and Recreation will open its freshwater and saltwater beaches over Memorial Day weekend, including the two Lake Quinsigamond State Park beaches. DCR’s Bennett Field and Dennis F. Shine Memorial pools typically open in late June.

Trying to figure out where to retire in Massachusetts? Forbes Magazine has two suggestions.

Forbes has just released a state-by-state list of the best places to retire in the United States, with a runner-up and a first-place winner for best place to retire in the state.

To make their selections, Forbes looked at factors like home prices, health care, the cultural scene and how likely people are to experience a natural disaster.

Here’s the top pick and runner up.

Northampton rated best MA city to retire to by Forbes

If you’re looking to retire, head to Western Mass.

Northampton’s median home price is $285,000. It also has no state income tax on Social Security earnings and has a high rank on the Milken Institute’s list of best cities for successful aging, according to Forbes.

With a population of 28,000, Northampton has good air quality and a high number of doctors per capita, the website said. It is also somewhat walkable and very much bikeable.

However, Northampton also has a crime rate above the national average. It also has a state estate and inheritance tax.

Thinking about retiring? World Atlas lists these 8 New England towns as ‘perfect’

Pittsfield named second best MA city to retire to by Forbes

The runner-up for best place to retire in Massachusetts is another Western Mass city, Pittsfield.

Pittsfield has a good ratio of primary care physicians, a large culture scene in the summer and a very low FEMA natural hazard, according to Forbes.

Forbes also said Pittsfield’s median home price is $283,000, which is 28% below the national median, and the city is pretty walkable and bikeable with good air quality and a population of 43,000.

However, Forbes says Pittsfield does have its demerits. It has a severe crime rate that is above the national average and a millionaire’s surtax of 4% that includes capital gains from the sale of a house.

Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at rvelasco@gannett.com.