Despite gains, challenges remain with staffing lifeguards and swim instructors at Oregon pools

 Portland Parks & Recreation opened its seven outdoor pools last Wednesday, and announced that it was now offering more swim lessons than in the past two years at its outdoor and indoor pools. Heading into summer, the outlook for staffing at the district’s pools is brighter than last year. Boosting starting pay for lifeguards by nearly $3 an hour, and expanding recruitment efforts has helped, although demand for swim lessons continues to outpace availability. Springfield’s Willamalane community pool and indoor water park are similarly not back to pre-pandemic staffing levels, although a hiring bonus and paying for the 40-hour lifeguard certification course - and the time to complete it - has helped boost enrollment. The Molalla Aquatic Center has hired 25% more lifeguards this summer than last year but has had to reduce the number of swim classes it can offer because of difficulty hiring certified instructors. 

Joining us to share regional perspectives on lifeguard staffing and meeting the demand for aquatic recreation this summer are Andy Amato, aquatic program supervisor at Portland Parks & Recreation; Brandon Lemcke, aquatic program manager at Willamalane Park and Recreation District in Springfield; and Melissa Georgesen, executive director of the Molalla Aquatic District and aquatics section president of the Oregon Recreation and Park Association. Elandea Estrada-Duff also shares her perspective as a lifeguard working at Willamalane Swim Center in Springfield and Camp Harlow in Eugene.