Mpls Park Board Faces Lifeguard Shortage Despite High Unemployment

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is dealing with a shortage of lifeguards.

Usually at this time of the year, lifeguard applications are plentiful. But that is not the case this year.

Officials are trying to figure out why, with unemployment rising, only a handful of people applied for the job.

With two water parks, 12 beaches and 65 wading pools, the MPRB is running full steam into the summer.

Connor Macklin is aquatics director at North Commons Water Park; he says finding certified guards has been a challenge. He thinks some teens don't want the job because of what it costs to get started -- classes that run upwards of $250.

But Macklin thinks the classes are worth it, as a financial investment.

"If you're a 16 year old, you are not going to get paid as well anywhere else," he said.

The pay for Minneapolis lifeguards is $9 - $11 an hour. But that can't compete with some suburban pools, which pay between $13- $15 an hour.

"I wish I had a really good answer as to why we didn't have the pool we did this year -- no pun intended." said Dawn Sommers, of the MPRB.

There could be several different factors that led to this year's shortage, she said.

According to the 2010 Census, half of Minneapolis homes are rentals and only 25 percent of homes have children. Sommers said the numbers make it hard to attract young people to the job, especially when there are not many young people to draw from.

However, the media coverage of lifeguard shortages and the increase in the number of drownings has sent 13 new applicants to the MPRB, Sommers said.

But more certified lifeguards are still needed.

The American Red Cross as well as the YMCA offer classes for people interested in becoming lifeguards.