INDIANAPOLIS — In an encouraging turn of events for Indianapolis residents, nearly all Indy Parks pools will be open this summer for the first time in several years. The Indianapolis Parks Department announced that more pools are accessible this year than in 2023, thanks to increased staffing efforts. This year more pools are able to open because Indy Parks doesn't need any more lifeguards.
“I really just wanted to bond with my community," Titus Fuller a second year lifeguard said. "Everyone in my neighborhood would just go to the pool and I know all my friends here and everything. I just wanted to get down to earth and have that kind of connection with my neighborhood."
In previous years, attracting and retaining lifeguards became a significant challenge following the pandemic, which closed pools for nearly two years. However, this year marks a turnaround.
“We had our strongest recruiting and retention since before the pandemic, so we've got 12 pools opening up this Saturday, along with 4 more that could open in the following week or so,” Alex Cortwright with Indy parks said.
Like many cities across the country, Indianapolis struggled to hire lifeguards post-pandemic. To counteract this, the city implemented new measures to enhance recruiting and retention.
“We always offer a $500 bonus through a certain time,” Cortwright explained. “So we really reached out and worked hard to make sure that our potential returning guards could get signed up early. That allows us to make sure that they are trained, placed, and in a good spot so that when late May comes around, we are ready to go.”
As for the lifeguards themselves, the sense of community and positive experiences motivated them to return.
“I feel like previous lifeguards are recruiting new lifeguards. It’s also just a positive experience,” Fuller shared. “Some are just reaching out to their friends like, ‘Yo, this is a great job, I think you would love it. It’s super cool. I think everyone should be a lifeguard. It’s a great first job if you aren't used to being in the workforce.’”
The following pools are slated to welcome visitors:
- Brookside Park: 3500 Brookside Pkwy S. Drive
- Eagle Creek Beach: 7840 W. 56th St.
- Ellenberger Park: 5301 E. St Clair St.
- Frederick Douglass Park: 1425 E. 25th St.
- Garfield Park: 2450 S. Shelby St.
- Indy Island Indoor Pool: 8300 E. Raymond St.
- Northwestway Park: 5253 W. 62nd St.
- Perry Park: 451 E Stop 11 Rd
- Riverside Park: 2420 E Riverside Dr. (Note: The main pool is open, but the kids’ pool section is awaiting parts for repair.)
- Sahm Park: 6801 E. 91st St.
- Stanley Strader Park: 2850 Bethel Ave.
- Thatcher Park Indoor Pool: 4949 W Vermont St.
Pools will operate six days a week, remaining closed on Mondays. The hours of operation will be as follows:
- Tuesday-Thursday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- Friday: 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
- Saturday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- Sunday: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Please note that pool openings and hours are subject to change, so residents are encouraged to check for the latest updates at parks.indy.gov, where they can also find information on open splash pads.
Looking ahead, more pools are expected to open in early June, including:
- Broad Ripple Park: 1500 Broad Ripple Ave.
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Park: 1702 N. Broadway St.
- Gustafson Park: 3110 Moller Road
- Rhodius Park: 1720 W. Wilkins St.
This summer, the only pool scheduled to remain closed is Willard Park, which is undergoing Blue Line construction, according to Indy Parks.
