3 Seattle beaches close for summer because of lifeguard shortage

SEATTLE — Three Seattle space seashores will stay closed for the summer season due to an ongoing lifeguard scarcity, Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) stated in a launch Tuesday.

SPR is shuttering Matthews Seaside, Seward Park Seaside and East Inexperienced Lake Seaside for the summer season. The division stated Medgar Evers, Evans and Queen Anne swimming pools may also stay closed for the summer season, permitting for building to be achieved within the space. Lifeguards on the websites can be re-directed to different seashores, SPR stated.

The division stated it didn’t rent sufficient educated and skilled lifeguards to maintain all of its 9 seashores and 10 swimming pools open. There are 165 lifeguards at the moment on employees, however SPR stated it wants round 425 to employees indoor and out of doors swimming pools together with summer season seashores.

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Parks and recreation officers stated lifeguard positions are lower than half-filled due to an absence of obtainable certification coaching throughout the pandemic. A lower in returning lifeguards due to pandemic-era layoffs and hiring freezes has additional contributed to the division’s staffing struggles, SPR stated.

That is not less than the second current 12 months cities in western Washington have confronted a lifeguard scarcity.

The division began recruiting lifeguards for the upcoming summer season season in September 2021. Lifeguard certification lessons have been restarted in January 2022, with officers administering 11 programs this 12 months. Seattle and Bellevue are providing free coaching and certification for lifeguards, too.

SPR began its teen coaching program at Rainier Seaside Pool this 12 months, redoubling efforts to fight widespread staffing points. The division stated on June 1 it hopes to rent one other 200 lifeguards over the following few weeks. 

Starting June 25, the next seashores can be guarded every day from 12-7 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. on weekends:

“We encourage all Seattleites and guests to return out to those seashores for a secure and enjoyable swim expertise,” SPR stated.

Parks and recreation officers stated the division thought-about drowning prevention, fairness, geographic distribution and general utilization to maintain swimming pools open whereas closing others. 

Summer season seashores, newbie swimming classes, underserved communities and accessible public transit have been the division’s priorities this summer season, SPR detailed in a launch.