Swim Tallahassee: Things going swimmingly at city pools with lifeguard shortages abated

Malcolm Harvey
·5 min read

Now that almost all of the city’s public pools are open – as opposed to last year’s closure of many – hundreds of swimmers are flocking back, seeking relief from the summer’s sweltering heat.

Last summer, only two public swimming pool locations maintained consistent hours of operation – Trousdell Aquatics Center and Wade Wehunt.

The reason: Not having enough certified lifeguards employed to adequately supervise the aquatics activities. The challenge, exacerbated by labor shortages fueled by the pandemic, continues to limit pool opening in cities across the country.

However, this year, six of the city’s pools are operating under normal hours.

The exception is Forestmeadows pool, 4750 N. Meridian Road, which has been closed since January, due to being understaffed. But that is about to change.

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A lifeguard helps swimmers at the Trousdell Aquatics Center on Tuesday, July 5, 2022 in Tallahassee, Fla.
A lifeguard helps swimmers at the Trousdell Aquatics Center on Tuesday, July 5, 2022 in Tallahassee, Fla.

Ashley Edwards, director of the Tallahassee Parks and Recreation Department, says “every week, we are increasing hours that we have available at all the different pools and our hope is that within the next few weeks, we’ll be able to add hours back at that facility.”

Edwards attributes that turnaround to an aggressive campaign to identify, train and certify candidates to fill the lifeguard vacancies.

“I am actually really pleased to say that we’ve been able to hire 60 new lifeguards this year, which is great,” Edwards told the Democrat. “It’s really a testament to the hard work that our aquatics staff has done in advertising the classes, doing recruiting, and doing all the training sessions with [them]. We’re super pleased.”

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Although a tremendous number of new lifeguards have jumped on board, the hunt isn’t over.

There are currently 110 active lifeguards employed by the city, yet Edwards is still encouraging applicants to apply to reach the comfortable amount of at least 125 lifeguards.

To incentivize applicants to complete the training, the city raised the starting hourly pay to $12.50 from $8.80 in early May 2021. The $55 certification fee also is waived.

Bryce Bass, a full-time student at Tallahassee Community College, says the flexibility appeals to him. He’s been a lifeguard for five years.

A lifeguard watches swimmers at the Trousdell Aquatics Center on Tuesday, July 5, 2022 in Tallahassee, Fla.
A lifeguard watches swimmers at the Trousdell Aquatics Center on Tuesday, July 5, 2022 in Tallahassee, Fla.

“The best part of the job is the ability to be out in the sun and watch the water but also the scheduling. It’s very flexible because I had cross country during the school season and was able to work around that,” Bass said Thursday, as he was leaving a shift at Wade Wehunt pool.

Edwards said some pools are busier than others, depending on what the person is seeking, such as activity swimming, swim lessons and leisure swimming.

For instance, Levy pool, Jack McLean Aquatics Center and Trousdell Aquatics Center each offer swimming lessons, while fitness swimmers may find the Trousdell best suitable for their needs as it offers lap swimming in an Olympic-sized pool.

The most popular locations for activity swimming are Jack McLean, Trousdell and Robinson-Trueblood pools due to their waterplay features, making them popular destinations for younger kids and teenagers.

Michelle Griffin, mother of a 1-year-old son, says they’ve just finished two weeks of swim lessons at Levy Park and visiting pools in Tallahassee offers a piece of relaxation.

“One, it is relaxing, and two, it teaches him water safety and so that way if he gets into a bigger body of water, he’s not afraid of water,” Griffin said.

Contact Democrat writer Malcolm Harvey at malcolm1.harvey@famu.edu.

A lifeguard watches swimmers at the Trousdell Aquatics Center on Tuesday, July 5, 2022 in Tallahassee, Fla.
A lifeguard watches swimmers at the Trousdell Aquatics Center on Tuesday, July 5, 2022 in Tallahassee, Fla.

Pool locations and hours:

TROUSDELL - Lap Pool, 298 John Knox Rd., 850-891-4901

  • Monday - Friday: 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

  • Sat: 7 a.m. 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  • Sun: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

  • Water Aerobics: Mon-Fri: 11:30 a.m. to 12: 30 p.m.; Sat: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

TROUSDELL - Activity Pool, 298 John Knox Rd. 850-891-4901

  • Tues., Wed, Thur: 12: 30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

  • Tot Time – Tues & Thur: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

  • Sat: 12:00 p.m. to 5 p.m.

  • Sun: 12:00 p.m. to 4 p.m.

JACK MCLEAN – Both Pools, 700 Paul Russell Rd, 850-891-2500

  • Mon., Wed., Fri: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

  • Sat:  12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

  • Sun: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

WADE WEHUNT, 1206 Myers Park Dr., 850-891-3985

  • Mon – Fri: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

  • Sat & Sun: 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.

  • Water Aerobics: Tuesday & Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.; Fri: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

ROBINSON TRUEBLOOD, 1115 Dade St., 850-891-3911

  • Mon & Wed: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

  • Sat: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

WALKER FORD, 2301 Pasco St., 850-891-3973

  • Tues & Thur: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

  • Sat: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

LEVY,  625 W Tharpe St., 850-891-3950 - (Water Aerobics & Swim Lessons Only)

  • Water Aerobics: Mon – Thur., 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Get more details at www.talgov.com/parks/aquatics.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Lifeguard shortage: Tallahassee's swimming pools mostly open this year