Seattle, WA
Shortage of lifeguards cause a third of Seattle beaches to close for summer
On account of an ongoing scarcity of lifeguards, Seattle Parks has introduced that they won’t be opening three of the 9 seashores for public use.
East Inexperienced Lake Seashore, Seward Park Seashore, and Matthews Seashore are among the many seashores that won’t have a lifeguard stationed, in addition to three public swimming pools, the Medger Evers, Evans, and Queen Anne swimming pools.
That is the second yr in a row that Seward Park Seashore and East Inexperienced Lake Park have been closed for the summer time.
Beginning June 25, these seashores can be guarded day by day from 12pm-7pm weekdays & 11am-7pm weekends: Madison, Madrona, Magnuson, Mt. Baker, Pritchard, & West Inexperienced Lake seashores. We encourage you to return out to those seashores for a secure & enjoyable swim expertise. https://t.co/BxuXRWFDvN
— Seattle Parks (@SeattleParks) June 8, 2022
Lifeguard scarcity may see some Seattle seashores closed to swimmers
In the course of the pandemic, Seattle Parks and Recreation was not capable of maintain lifeguard certification courses as a result of proximity vital for trainees to apply and present proficiency in rescuing previous to certification…” Seattle Parks and Recreation stated in a press release launched about their resolution to shut a few of the seashores. “At present now we have 165 lifeguards on workers and want round 425 to workers indoor swimming pools and summer time seashore/pool choices.”
Folks can nonetheless swim at unguarded seashores at their very own danger, however the parks division warns in opposition to it as a result of excessive quantity of drowning that may happen.
On the Gee and Ursula Present, Spike O’Neil weighed in on the significance of the town offering these out of doors areas, but in addition making certain that they had been secure for the general public.
If the town has a park, the town has an obligation to make {that a} secure place to make use of,” O’Neil stated. “If it’s a public seashore, I feel the town has a debt to the residents who pay taxes for the town to provide us these advantages and these facilities and to have or not it’s monitored and be secure or shut it down.”
Starting on June 25, the six different seashores can be opened and absolutely staffed with the obtainable lifeguards, in addition to the seven of the general public swimming pools within the space.
The town continues to be searching for candidates for the open lifeguard positions, with pay beginning at $20 an hour.