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A shortage of lifeguards in Richardson has caused the city to modify days of operation for its four neighborhood pools. The Canyon Creek, Cottonwood, Glenville and Terrace pools will open as planned but will have modified hours until additional staff is hired, the city stated in an announcement.
The pools are scheduled to be open four days a week and the days they are open varies depending on the pool, with closures staggered so that multiple pools are open each day.
Days and hours that each of the Richardson pools are open are available online.
Richardson’s Heights Family Aquatic Center is already in operation, having opened last Saturday, May 29. The facility will operate from noon-8 p.m. daily through June 5 and Wednesday through Sunday after June 5. Admission is $4 daily per person for residents and $8 per person for nonresidents.
In April, Plano reported challenges in finding summer staffers, but the problem is spread across North Texas, including Irving. Reports of lifeguard shortages are occurring across the country.
Plano leaders in April said part of the problem is the pandemic closed facilities and summer programs in 2020. Additionally, young people who would normally fill those roles have decided to not return or have found other jobs.
In Lewisville, just one of the city’s aquatic centers – Thrive – is currently open, KXAS-TV (NBC5) reported.
Lewisville’s Sun Valley Aquatic Center was supposed to open over the weekend but had to be delayed until 30 lifeguards are hired, according to the report