May 21, 2021
The City of Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department has tentatively set the opening of the Outdoor Aquatic Center for Monday, June 14.
Tentative because the department is still in need of lifeguards. Parks and Recreation has many people scheduled to take the lifeguard training course, which is a prerequisite for employment as a lifeguard and provides the necessary certification to patrol the pools. With the current numbers in the pipeline, there are still approximately 80 more lifeguards needed to staff both facilities at previous years’ levels.
The following is the tentative schedule, pending the current applicant pool achieving certification to lifeguard:
Outdoor Aquatic Center (starting June 14)
1-7:30 p.m. Monday-Friday – Open for public recreational Swim
1-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday – Open for public recreational Swim
Indoor Aquatic Center (starting June 14)
6:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Monday-Friday – Open for lap swimming, swim teams (short course) physical therapy (LMH classes) and morning LPRD water fitness classes.
9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturdays – Open for lap swim, swim teams (short course)
Sunday – Closed
Additional hours and features will be added as lifeguards are trained and hired throughout the summer.
The Indoor Aquatic Center, 4706 Overland Drive, is scheduled for its annual maintenance shutdown Sunday, July 25 – Sunday, August 15, with reopening Monday, August 16. Hours for fall will be released later this summer; however, it is planned the pool will reopen with the zero-depth and children’s area being available. It may also open up this summer as additional staff are hired and trained.
The Outdoor Aquatic Center, 727 Kentucky St., will close to the public at the close of business Sunday, Aug. 15; however, the annual Pooch Plunge is planned for Monday, Aug. 16. Additional details and information will be released in the future about the event.
The department’s learn-to-swim program should begin in July, as staff is hired, trained and certified. Some lifeguards double as both lifeguards and swim instructors, so with many of the current new hires being certified for the first time, it is important they become acclimated to not only procedures and protocols, but also the curriculum and skills necessary to advance young swimmers through certification.
“Every effort is being made to open the pools and offer programming;” Lori Madaus, aquatics supervisor, said, “however, safety is the priority in everything we do.
“We want to assure the public we are doing everything possible to have as many features open this summer and have as many programs as we can from learn-to-swim lessons to water fitness programming available. The pandemic hit us very hard, but we are resilient. We just have to be safe both from the pandemic standpoint following protocols, as well as the standards to operate a safe pool with competent, well-trained employees.”
To apply for a lifeguard, water safety instructor or any Parks and Recreation open part-time position, please visit: http://www.lawrenceks.org/jobs. Those without the lifeguard training certification are still encouraged to apply. In the event, certification isn’t held or has lapsed, please contact the Aquatics Division to find out about upcoming training opportunities.
For questions about parks and recreation part-time jobs, please contact parksrec@lawrenceks.org.