Lifeguard shortage in Region 8

Jonesboro, Arkansas – Even though it’s still summer, many pools may be closed to people who want to cool off.

Due to a lack of monitors, the American Lifeguard Association said that almost a third of public pools stayed closed in 2023.

Two towns say that the shortage is normal for the summer.

Tents have been set up at the Paragould Water Park. A week before the city wished, the lifeguard seats were empty.

James Kashak, director of Parks and Recreation, said the area was closed because of a lack of supplies.

“Most of our lifeguards are in college.” In other words, they need to go back to college. “And the people who run our lifeguard stations are teachers,” he said.

There aren’t enough students in the city to keep the pool open, but they’re not the only ones. The problem has also been going on for years in the city of Jonesboro.

Lifeguards will soon be going back to school, but the two public parks are still open. Danny Kapales, the director of parks and recreation in Jonesboro, said they have a plan to keep things open for a little longer.

“That’s why we usually change our schedule when school starts to only be open on the weekends,” he said.

Both city pools will only be open on the weekends from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. starting August 11.

Kapales said the city has to deal with the shortage every year. However, it was important to keep both places open for a little longer for the people who live there, especially since the Parker Park pool opened a few weeks ago.

Some lucky people in Paragould will get to enjoy a private pool day before the walls close for good, but there are other things they can do.

There is an indoor pool in the city that is open all year.

Along with the new sports center, Jonesboro also wants to build an indoor pool.

“Once there’s an indoor pool in Jonesboro, you know, that’ll be something people can do all year long and have a place to swim all year long,” Kapales said.

As for now, Kapales said it was important to enjoy the pools. But he also suggested that people who want to keep the pools open longer might want to become lifeguards.