Henderson Parks and Recreation Director Trace Stevens said that a lack of lifeguards will keep Atkinson Park Pool from opening the baby pool and waterslide during Memorial Day weekend and will decrease the days that Atkinson Park pool is open this summer.
Although the baby pool and water slide will be closed, Stevens said the main swimming area will be open over Memorial Day weekend, Saturday, May 25-Monday, May 27.
During the summer, the pool will be open Tuesday through Saturday and closed on Sunday and Monday. The baby pool and water slide will be open after the Memorial Day weekend, Stevens said.
“We are currently struggling to recruit lifeguards for Atkinson Park Pool,” Stevens said, adding his staff has done all sorts of recruitment that hasn’t turned up as many recruits as needed.
Stevens said lifeguard recruitment is continuing and there are some lifeguards who will join the staff later which could allow for the number of open days to increase.
Mayor Brad Staton suggested that the city could offer an incentive for lifeguards, perhaps a scholarship for lifeguards who work a certain number of hours per summer. He asked City Attorney Dawn Kelsey if offering these types of incentives are legal.
Staton said he thinks the $11 per hour for starting lifeguards is too low. He said he’d like that to be bumped up to $15 per hour.
Stevens said finding lifeguards is not only a problem in Henderson, but a nationwide one.
Commissioner Robert Pruitt said that when he was young in Henderson, there were five public pools. He’s concerned that the city can’t find lifeguards and keep the Atkinson pool open seven days a week and throughout the summer.
Commissioner Austin Vowels suggested that the city go ahead and bump up the pay to $15 per hour.
Stevens said the Atkinson pool is important because it’s the only public pool in town, and many children don’t have the opportunity to go to the Henderson Country Club or Aqua City to swim.
“It’s even more reason for us to raise the pay and get it open,” Vowels said.
