Greenfield swimming pool set to open June 2

The Greenfield swimming pool will open Friday, June 2, according to pool manager Meridith Johnston at the Tuesday, May 9 city council meeting.

Based on the information she has right now, Johnston was able to construct a draft schedule for lifeguards and concession workers, which she showed to the city council.

The pool has 10 lifeguards secured for the summer, providing certifications are passed for those who have yet to take the class. Four were certified as of last Tuesday, three of these are returners. Five were taking a class over the weekend to become certified. Another will take a little longer to become certified.

Johnston commented that a “good chunk” of the lifeguards this year are new.

The work schedule will open up and be easier to fill as the summer goes on and school activities wind down.

Johnston is thinking about switching the schedule so that lifeguards can come to the pool, work and go home, rather than having a break in the swimming and then opening back up later. No official hours have been released yet.

“It seems like last year there was an issue with getting the lifeguards to come back for that 7-9 p.m. time frame,” Johnston explained. “I remember being a teen. I wanted to work and then go home.”

Johnston explained there may be a few additional lifeguards who become certified throughout the summer. These may be able to fill gaps later in the summer if others have to leave work early to move to college.

July certifications classes are open for lifeguards like these to become certified, however classes until then are full. Johnston would like to become certified to teach classes so that lifeguards can become certified closer to home. She said concessions workers do not need to be certified.

The city council and Operation Pool committee, led by spokesperson Deb Parrott, have been discussing the pros and cons of opening the pool since late last fall.

Public Works Manager Brian Hoadley was scheduled to hold an open house and tour of the pool facility Tuesday evening, however the reason for that is long-range planning, seeing whether keeping the historical pool or exploring other options are best moving forward.