Rutland pool staffs up for summer

RUTLAND, Vt. (WCAX) – With summer around the corner, public swimming pools are staffing up, including finding certified lifeguards.

Rutland’s White Memorial Park Pool is used for camps, lessons, or just to cool off from the summer heat, and is a critical component to Rutland’s summertime fun.

The pool was built in the ‘70s but was refurbished in 2018. Tyler Dahlin, the city’s parks and facilities director says it’s a big loss for the community when closed. “Now that it’s back, there’s a huge draw — people love it. I mean, the parking lot is always packed. We actually probably need some more parking to support what goes on here,” he said.

But pools like Rutland’s typically require a lifeguard, which has been in short supply in recent years. But it’s a different story at White’s this year. “Having lifeguards that want to work that want to be here. They want to help the community is very essential. I’m very lucky that lifeguards want to come back year after year. That really helps us to be able to open as early as we’re going to open this year,” said Rutland Recreation and Parks Superintendent Kim Peters.

She runs a lifeguarding class out of Rutland High School’s Yearend Studies Program. She generally finds anywhere from 20 to 40 new students who want to become lifeguards, never really worrying about being short-staffed. “A lot of these employees have been with us for about six years and so this year they’re going to take on new roles, checking chemicals, making sure the patrons are taken care of, safety, and also they’re mentors to the new lifeguards that are coming in,” Peters said.

The pool opens Friday for the first open and lap swims of the season, giving locals a place to cool off during the holiday weekend.

Recommended Posts

Loading...