Lack Of Lifeguards Keeping Area Pools Closed

With the temperature rising, Tulsans are ready to take the plunge, but it's another season of problems for city pools. Six out of 22 pools are open and city leaders hope to add two more to that list

Thursday, June 7th 2007, 10:03 am

By: News On 6

With the temperature rising, Tulsans are ready to take the plunge, but it's another season of problems for city pools. Six out of 22 pools are open and city leaders hope to add two more to that list soon. The News On 6â€™s Heather Lewin reports this time the issue isn't just money.

At the Springdale Rec Center, the pool looks inviting and is ready to go, except there's no lifeguard. That's why the gate is still locked, but it's not stopping neighborhood kids, and that has people worried.

Getting ready to open the rec center, a program separate from the city pool, operator Edith Shoals got a surprise.

â€œAbout 12 or 14 kids swimming, and we just came out and told them they couldn't swim until the city gets lifeguards," said Shoals.

She says area residents are frustrated other pools have already opened and they're just not taking no for an answer.

â€œClimbing over the fence, we even have grown folks climbing over the fence, so that let me know the community is ready to swim," Shoals said.

â€œIt's not so much a matter of the pool not being open yet as it is we just often have kids, especially at night, that like to climb over the fence and use the pool," said Craig Thompson of Tulsa Parks.

Thompson says it happens every year at pools all over Tulsa. He's asking parents to be aware of where their kids are and discourage them from sneaking in. He says the pool will open, along with Zeigler, as soon as they can get supervision.

â€œThis year has been especially challenging in terms of finding qualified people who will come and work as a lifeguard at city pools," Thompson said.

So as long as the chairs are empty, the pool will be also.

â€œI just didn't want to see a little kid get hurt and not say anything," said Shoals.

It was only a last minute donation that even allowed this pool to be open this summer, so city leaders say they hadn't planned on more lifeguards.

Lacy Park pool is open, about a mile away.

For more information on lifeguard positions call 596-PARK.

Watch the video: Several City Pools Have Yet To Open