LOUISVILLE, Ky. — While the Kentuckiana weather still has a ways to go for it to feel like summer, Louisville Parks and Recreation is now hiring for their 2024 swim season.
Sunday, Parks and Rec held its first free lifeguard training course at Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center.
The course will provide lifeguard, first aid and CPR/AED certifications.
"They have to pass a pre-requisite which is a 150-yard swim, followed by an immediate 2-minute tread where they have to have their hands above the water or across their chest. Once they pass that, the second pre-requisite we have is they have to swim 20 yards, dive down between 7-10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound brick, swim back to the starting point, get the brick and themselves out of the water, within a minute and 40 seconds," said Metro Parks Aquatic Instructor Beth Darrall.
Last year, only two outdoor pools were open in Louisville while the Algonquin and Camp Taylor pools stayed closed all season for repairs and renovations. Both pools will be closed again this summer but are expected to reopen next year.
On top of that, Louisville has seen a shortage of lifeguards for years, but the shortage was really made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Each lifeguard class costs $200 to take, but the fee is waived if the participants agree to work one year at a Louisville Parks and Recreation pool.
"We have that as an incentive because next year, hopefully, we'll be opening a couple new facilities and it's been a very long time since we've had a new public pool in Louisville, so we're really excited about that," said Darrall.
The training courses will be offered through May at Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center.
Future class dates are:
Sun, Sat & Sun
March 17, 23 & 24
9-5 p.m.
Wed, Thu & Fri
April 3, 4 & 5
9-5 p.m.
Spring Break
Sun, Sat & Sun
April 14, 20 & 21
9-5 p.m.
Sun, Sat & Sun
April 28, May 5 & 11
9-5 p.m.
Sat, Sun & Tue
May 18, 19 & 21
9-5 p.m.
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