Governor Polis recently announced awardees for the state’s Lifeguard Training Initiative, a grant program to support government organizations that operate public swimming pools.
Boulder’s Parks and Recreation department (BPR) applied for the State of Colorado’s Pools Special Incentive grant and was awarded $10,700 to support the BPR’s costs to train lifeguard staff at outdoor pools, indoor pools, and the Boulder Reservoir for the summer.
BPR requested and received the maximum award that was given to a municipality and will use this funding to pay for lifeguard certification costs. These expenses include costs for the city holding certification classes, paying new staff for taking the certification classes, and class supplies. BPR will hold lifeguard certification classes throughout the summer as we continue to onboard new lifeguards.
“We will spend about $82,000 this summer to get our new teammates trained and certified to be lifeguards,” said BPR Director Ali Rhodes. “This grant will support these efforts to provide as much fun as we can as safely as we can. We are so excited to be opening Spruce Pool for the first time since 2020!”
BPR has hired approximately 215 lifeguards to staff pools and the Reservoir swim beach, the most the department has ever hired for a summer. Having this many lifeguards means BPR can provide the highest level of service since 2019.
We are still in the process of training new employees and pool operations are adjusted each week based upon staff availability. For example, we are now planning to have outdoor and indoor pools open full or partial hours seven days a week. Community members should review the upcoming week’s pool schedule, updated every Sunday night, at bouldercolorado.gov/aquatics-and-facility-status.
Spruce Pool is scheduled to open for lap and leisure swim starting Monday, June 19, the first time since 2020. The facility is scheduled to be open Monday – Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will add weekend hours as staffing allows. We will have swim lessons available at Spruce Pool in July and August and will share more as details are firmed up.
Any community members interested in becoming a lifeguard can apply at BPRjobs.org. BPR pays for the certification and time spent in training.
