WATER PARKS TO REOPEN — ON A LIMITED BASIS
Schedules shifting to accommodate lifeguard shortage
Oakland County’s water parks will be open more than they were over the last two years, but not as consistently as before the pandemic.
Challenges go well beyond COVID and a very tight job market. The county is competing with cities and private entities, from schools and gyms to residential facilities with water features, for lifeguard candidates. The lifeguard shortage is far from new. Teens have an increasing number of job opportunities, as well as recreational pursuits other than swimming.
So despite pay that’s higher than minimum wage, jobs are going unfilled. Rochester Hills offers $14.50 an hour, for example, while the City of Troy pays $14.
The City of Oak Park offers certified lifeguards $16 an hour, and up to $800 in signing bonuses.
Water parks are a “huge community service,” said Matt Pardy, Red Oaks water park supervisor, one in which lifeguards have immediate rewards of saving lives and a near guarantee of getting hired the following year.
He worked as a summer lifeguard for the county more than 20 years ago, a fact he uses to encourage high-school students to apply for jobs. Pardy is a certified lifeguard trainer, though others at Red Oaks do the county’s training these days, he said.
Someone who gets a summer lifeguard job will typically return to that job for two more years before moving onto college, a trade school or a full-time job, Purdy said. The pandemic nearly drained the county’s pipeline, Purdy said.
Even in 2019, he said, it was harder to get the 120 lifeguards needed to fully staff both county water parks daily through summer.
So far this year, he said, about 75 people have been hired as county lifeguards. He expects some attrition, which happens every year.. That’s one reason the county continues promoting lifeguard jobs.
It’s too late this year for an inexperienced person to get a lifeguard job, because of the training required, but people of any age who are certified lifeguards are encouraged to apply.
“We spend a ton of resources on a new lifeguard,” he said. They get 24 hours of classroom training and 10 to 15 hours orientation and onsite training, with a day-long assignment to shadow an experience lifeguard before they are allowed
to work by themselves,” he said. They also have practice sessions and reviews throughout the summer, he said, “so that they’re at the top of their ability to react and respond if there is a problem.”
On the positive side, reported shortages in chlorine won’t be an issue, because the staff shorting prevents the county from operating the parks seven days a week this summer.
Red Oaks four main features, the wave-action pool; triple-flume waterslide; River Ride; and new children’s splash pad will all be open, staff permitting, Pardy said. The new children’s splash pad has 52 interactive water features, including a water play climber with slides and a dumping bucket. Waterford Oaks Waterpark has a tropical wave pool that features palm trees and bubbler fountains near the shore. A children’s water playground provides more than 30 interactive activities.
Lifeguard hopefuls who need to get certified through Oak Park’s program will get $300 once they’re certified and another $300 check, if they work through the end of the season.
Those pursuing county jobs are looking at relatively competitive pay: $12.36 an hour for park attendants, $15.35 for lifeguards. Bonuses are higher. People inget this summer will get $300 once certified and $500 for working at least 100 hours as lifeguards this summer.
Head lifeguards must have three months’ experience. They earn $16.86 an hour and can get a $1,500 bonus on top of other incentives offered.
All waterpark employees will get a $1-per-hour bonus at the end of the season as well.
Pardy said the benefits of a county parks job include flexible working hours, so people can get to summer classes, sports, second jobs or spend time with family.
Most summer workers put in between 25 and 35 hours a week, but they have the option of picking up extra shifts, he said.
The county parks’ seasonal workers get such benefits of a free annual vehicle pass to county parks, along with a few free passes. Lifeguards get free gear, including a sweatshirt or jacket, sweatpants, a swimsuit, and hat.
For efficiency’s sake, Pardy said parks officials are coordinating transportation on a limited basis. A lifeguard who lives closest to Red Oaks Waterpark in Madison Heights, for example, would report there, but get a free ride to Waterford Oaks for those shifts.
Guest safety is paramount, Pardy said. Limiting each park’s schedule and sharing staff is “the best option we had with the staffing struggles we are facing.”
Waterford Oaks County Park Supervisor Mike Boyd said hiring will continue through the summer.
Only Waterford Oaks will be open on the July 4 holiday, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Red Oaks’ River Walk program will run on Mondays and Wednesdays from July 6-Aug. 17.
To check park schedules and ticket availability, visit OaklandCountyParks.com.
Pardy and other county officials strongly urge people to plan ahead by buying admission tickets up to three days in advance.
Tickets are being sold on site, but Pardy said the limited hours increase the chances of a day being sold out.
This year, tickets cost $22 for Red Oaks, with county residents paying $18. Waterford Oaks tickets cost $20, with county residents paying $15. Children 1 year old and younger are admitted free to both parks.
Pardy said Red Oaks operating budget this year is $1.6 million.
“We’re very excited to get open and have people hit the waterpark,” Pardy said, noting that safety is paramount.
Red Oaks’ hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Waterford Oaks’ hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays.
Visit OaklandCountyParks.com for more information.