Broomfield and Longmont were among 71 communities and special recreation districts in Colorado awarded a piece of $350,000 in funding to keep swimming pools open and properly staffed during this summer.
Last week, Gov. Jared Polis unveiled the Pools Special Initiative 2022 to help swimming pools stay open as communities deal with staff shortages. The awarded grants support more workforce flexibility, new training for safeguards and provide real relief to local communities to make sure Coloradans can enjoy their summers and the pool, according to a news release from the governor’s office.
“We are helping expand pool hours and get closed pools open so that this July 4 and throughout the summer, Coloradans across the state can safely have fun with family and friends, learn to swim, exercise and recreate at our amazing public pools,” Polis said in the news release. “We are working with local communities to get more pools open and expand hours with support for increased pay, more flexibility, and helping train more lifeguards.”
The grants help communities find and keep qualified lifeguards, ensuring that pools can increase operating hours and to stay open longer in the summer after many lifeguards return to school in the fall, and expand capacity to teach life-saving swim lessons, the news release states.
Longmont was forced to close two activity pools for younger kids because of staffing shortages this summer. Larger pools remain open.
Jason Stolz - Longmont’s Aquatics Area Supervisor - said via email that the city received $12,500. The funds can only be used for recruitment and retention and not training.
