West End pool to be staffed through summer and kids may soon get to swim for free

Tessa Weinberg | Courier Journal

The only pool in the West End is expected to be staffed through the summer after free lifeguard certification classes were offered to draw prospects following a shortage caused by fears over violence.

Metro Parks and Recreation Assistant Director Ben Johnson said 20 of the 25 people who attended the lifeguard certification class passed. The class was offered for free to people who committed to working at a Metro Parks pool.

Seven of those that attended the training have already been hired, while another dozen are having their paperwork processed, he said.

As the Courier-Journal reported previously, at least five more lifeguards were needed to open the Algonquin Park pool, 1614 Cypress St., for the summer.

Of those who applied, about 80 percent came from the Algonquin area, Johnson said. One candidate he spoke with said he was excited to be a lifeguard at the Algonquin pool because it was the one he enjoyed using as he grew up in the area.

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Johnson said the free lifeguard training class, which normally costs about $200, was held at the Algonquin pool to help familiarize people with the area and draw people from the community.

"That always helps," Johnson said. "When you're dealing with young people, the familiarity of staff is always good."

The new lifeguards were hired with a salary of just under $12 an hour, Johnson said, to help attract candidates. Starting pay is normally $10 an hour for Metro Parks and Rec lifeguards.

Despite earlier concerns, the pool was able to open Memorial Day weekend by supplementing lifeguards and staff from other sites.

Hiring for the summer season usually begins as early as February or March, Johnson said. He said in the future the city might consider hiring on a rotating basis year-round to try and ensure the pools are always adequately staffed.

Johnson said people often underestimate how difficult being a lifeguard can be.

"It's serious work. People think 'Baywatch,' sitting in the chair, body beautiful, running on the beach," Johnson said. "This is very serious work, especially when you're working at municipal pools that have a lot of kids just there for the summer."

Councilwoman Mary Woolridge, who represents the Algonquin area, said having trouble finding lifeguards to staff the pool was "a bump in the road."

"We like to swim in West Louisville as well as they like to swim other places. So there's no reason that pool should ever, ever be closed," Woolridge said.

In addition to receiving more lifeguards, the Algonquin Park pool may start to see special events like a family night and days children can swim for free.

Woolridge this week said the first 25 kids will be allowed to swim for free at the pool. Admission is $2 for children 17 and under, according to Metro Parks and Recreation's website.

"We're working families in West Louisville, and a lot of families just don't have that kind of extra money," Woolridge said.

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Woolridge said she recently got a call that a hole had been cut in the fence surrounding the West End pool, and suspects the fence was damaged by someone who wanted to swim in the pool but didn't have the money to pay for it.

"We don't want children feeling like the have to sneak in the pool or do some kind of damage to get in the pool. I want the children to be able to swim free," Woolridge said.

The details on how many days kids would be allowed to swim for free and when a family night would be held for the pool to stay open late so families can swim for free are still being finalized, Woolridge said.

Woolridge said that she took away from Monday's community meeting that there aren't enough activities in the area for kids to occupy their time.

"The kids don't have anything to do. The kids don't have anywhere to go," Woolridge said. "I don't even have a community center in my district."

Initiatives like a firetruck turned into a mobile playground that will visit Algonquin Park twice a week will give kids more to do Woolridge said, in addition to the "Bringing Unity in the Community Festival" that will be held in the park June 9-10.

Sponsored by Woolridge and the nonprofit Community Outreach Service, the festival will feature music, food, businesses and job opportunities. The festival begins at noon on Friday and 10 a.m. on Saturday.

Woolridge said she hopes the festival, along with other initiatives like offering free entry to the pool, will help neighbors get to know each other, and ultimately make people more comfortable taking advantage of the parks and pools despite violence in the area.

"I think the more we get together and the more we use the park, the more we use the pool, as individuals, as families, I think the more people will be comfortable with using that park, using that pool," Woolridge said.

Reporter Tessa Weinberg can be reached at 502-582-4168 or tweinberg@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Tessa_Weinberg.

Pools

Metro Parks pools will be open through July 29 with the following schedules:



Algonquin Park

1614 Cypress St.

502-772-7907

Open daily: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Closed Tuesdays

Fairdale (Nelson Hornbeck Park)

709 Fairdale Road

502-361-8270

Open daily: 1–6 p.m.

Closed Mondays

Norton (Camp Taylor Memorial Park)

4201 Lee Ave.

502-451-0678

Open daily: 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Closed Thursdays

Sun Valley Park

6506 Bethany Lane

502-935-0302

Open daily: 1–6 p.m.

Closed Wednesdays