Following the opening of Chicago’s beaches last month, today we take another step closer to summer with the city opening of all pools managed by the Chicago Park District and starting up over 200 water spray features and water playgrounds.
According to Park District officials, all 77 outdoor and indoor pools are set to reopen today after a huge surge in lifeguard applicants.
Having struggled to staff public pools in recent years, the Chicago Park District cited strong hiring efforts for this year’s success with both a “Your Perfect Summer Job” campaign and a new stipend-based Lifeguard Explorer Training Program helping to recruit more lifeguards than previous years.
“We worked hard to strengthen our lifeguard pipeline and to yield sufficient candidates to open all beaches and pools, and it has paid off. Due to our extensive hiring efforts, Chicago residents and families will enjoy their summer and cool off in our beaches and pools”, said Chicago Park District Superintendent and CEO Rosa Escareño in a news release.
The 50 outdoor pools and 27 indoor pools will be open six days a week up from the five days a week that most opened for last summer.
The majority of pools will operate during the hottest hours of the day between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. through to Labor Day weekend though more information for each pool can be found at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com.
The only man-made inland beach in Chicago will also open up today in Humboldt Park.
The Humboldt Beach has been closed for four years but will open a new and improved Natural Swimming Beach after a renovation project saw to issues over poor water quality and upkeep.
Read more about the City of Chicago’s public pools on the Chicago Park District website.