Early lifeguard recruitment a good sign for city pool season, and for Gainey admin
Mayor Ed Gainey has found his stride when it comes to supporting the city’s public pools. The administration kicked off proactive lifeguard recruitment this week, a full three months before the first pools are slated to open on June 15.
It’s a good move, and one that shows Mr. Gainey and his team have learned from the city’s pool staffing struggles since the COVID pandemic, when the normal avenues of lifeguard recruitment and training screeched to a halt. In the intervening years, the administration has managed to reopen most community pools, sometimes on a limited basis, but staff has remained slim.
Grassroots organizers have long underscored the importance of these facilities for their communities — most recently in 2022, when city officials announced that the North Side’s Sue Murray pool would not open because of the lifeguard shortage.
Local residents lobbied for weeks, circulating a petition that quickly gathered over 400 signatures. Mr. Gainey personally oversaw the reopening, and Sue Murray was once again welcoming swimmers in a matter of weeks.
But last year, the administration went silent again. There were no public announcements regarding the lifeguard shortage, and City Council didn’t earnestly discuss the issue until May, just weeks before the pools were slated to open. The city went into the season with its staff already under pressure.
Still, 15 of the city’s 18 pools were eventually operational that year — an encouraging rebound following the pandemic, and a major jump from 2022’s 12 open pools. Now, the Gainey Administration is finally prioritizing, in a timely fashion, the recruitment of the roughly 200 required lifeguards to fully staff all city pools, signaling a larger commitment to opening these facilities on time and with full staff.
Wages are competitive with suburban alternatives, ranging from $16-$19 — an acknowledgement that wages at other summer jobs, like in fast food service, have risen, and that lifeguarding is serious work that is valued by the city. As for the other details: Lifeguards must be vaccinated, live in the city and have turned 16 by September 2024. A training team does the rest, offering first aid certifications and other lifesaving requirements.
These measures to entice lifeguards aren’t all new, but kicking them off early will allow residents ample time to hear about the program, adjust their summer schedules and make time for the necessary trainings. Last year, in desperation the Editorial Board suggested opening up eligibility beyond city residents; with this year’s early kickoff, that shouldn’t be necessary.
Public pools, as one of the most visible, popular and universally accessible city services, are a worthy investment of the city’s funds and of the administration’s time and attention. Pittsburghers deserve to have access these public amenities, and to be safe while doing so.