Evanston’s beach season is coming to an end, with the city’s two remaining beaches, Clark Street and Leigh Street, closing on September 5th.
But authorities have already taken steps to prevent a recurrence of lifeguard shortages, with one beach closing early this year. This includes considering alternative certification systems for candidates.
At the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting on Aug. 18, Audrey Thompson, the city’s director of parks and recreation, considered some steps officials could take with a simple report.
The agency surprised the public in June by announcing that Greenwood Beach would be closed for the remainder of the 2022 season to ensure proper staffing and public safety at the city’s other five beaches.
Officials said they were taking steps amid a nationwide lifeguard shortage that is affecting many other swimming venues in the Chicago area.
At the time, Thompson estimated that the city would need at least 12 lifeguards to keep Greenwood Beach open. Authorities said they decided to close the beach based on numbers that showed it was being used less than others.
The city’s Aug. 4 announcement that swimming would be restricted to Clark and Lee Street beaches was also due to staff shortages, with many lifeguards returning to school.
However, Thompson noted that the city has made similar calls in the past for the same reason.
Policies and procedures are also under review
Thompson told board members that staff are considering a number of policy and procedure changes for next season. .
Historically, Evanston has focused on maintaining and recruiting lifeguards who meet the strict standards of the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) for lifeguards and other marine rescuers.
“And … we are Supreme Lakeside and no one else has that certification,” Thompson told the board. There is an indoor pool – you can’t rent it from those lifeguards either.
“We are already having meetings to understand how we will work to include more of these lifeguards if we change our accreditation, but we will also add some of the USLA’s criteria.”
In addition, the city could step up training to fill the gap, she said.
When asked about lifeguard standards in the Senior Center’s pools and lakes, Thompson said: But in a swim test using USLA standards, she “started with over 90 lifeguards and lost over 20,” she said.
She pointed out that there are other lakeshores in the area that do not use USLA certification. “So the goal is to work with other organizations. [with lifeguards] I even tell them to train them with lifeguards…”
“But that’s not all. It’s also our recruitment, so we’re not recruiting until very late,” said Thompson, who was named to the director’s position just before the beach season.
She said the staff’s goal, which includes reaching out to more black and brown students at Evanston Township High School, “is to make it attractive for people to come to the lakefront.”
She argued that salaries for city lifeguards were favorable compared to salaries in other communities. “Should we pay them more? Absolutely,” she said.
She said there are other things the city is looking at. “Recruitment has already started and I will definitely let everyone know,” she said.
