JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Nearly half of the City of Jacksonville’s public pools are still closed this summer, one month after First Coast News reported on maintenance and staffing issues at the pools.
Top officials from Mayor Donna Deegan’s office say staff is working to open five pools next week and come up with solutions for the community.
Sixteen of Jacksonville’s 34 city pools are closed in the middle of a hot Florida summer.
In June, city officials blamed the closures on maintenance problems and a lack of lifeguards.
Director of Strategic Initiatives and Liaison to the Press Melissa Ross said it’s a quality of life issue new Mayor Donna Deegan believes is important.
According to Ross, conversations are happening between the administration and the First Coast YMCA about options.
“They are open to possibly opening up some of their swimming facilities to provide more swimming options for kids and families this summer,” Ross said.
Terry Parker Pool is one of almost a dozen pools closed in the city because of a maintenance or repair issue, but it's expected to open next week.
Former President of the Florida Swimming Pool Association John Garner said the closures can lead to kids missing out on swim lessons or meets.
“One of the more important things they can do is to maintain the pools properly throughout the year," Garner said, "not shut them down because one of the worst things you can do for maintenance purposes is to shut the pool down and just let it sit.”
Looking to the future, Ross said there’s a possibility they’ll add $500,000 to the budget for pool maintenance.
There could be a raise coming for the lifeguards who currently make $14 an hour.
She also said they’ll aggressively and proactively address the staffing shortage next summer.
“Looking to recruit and train more lifeguards far earlier in the season,” Ross said, “and there will be a marketing campaign to accomplish that so that the city can deal with the lifeguard shortage more effectively in the future.”
CLOSED
- Baldwin Middle/High School
- Robert Kennedy Pool
- San Souci Pool (Adolph Wurn Park)
- Emmett Reed Pool
- Terry Parker High School
- Carvill Park Pool --- (S) 8793 Carvill Ave.
- Charles Clark Pool --- (R/S) 8793 Sibbald Road
- Ed White High School ---(R/S) 1700 Old Middleburg Road
- Englewood High School --- (R/S) 4412 Barnes Road
- Eugene Butler Pool --- (S) 900 Acorn St.
- Golfair Park Pool (C.T. Brown) ---(R/S) 4415 Moncrief Road
- Highlands Middle School --- (R/S) 10913 Pine Estates Road
- Mallison Park Pool --- (R/S) 3133 Lenox Ave.
- Paxon High School --- (R/S) 3239 West Fifth St.
- Raines High School --- (R/S) 3663 Raines Ave.
- Sunny Acres Pool---Overall Park renovation project to create a destination location for citizens with disabilities. (R/S) 2850 Wompi Dr.
OPEN
- Andrew Jackson High School
- Cecil Aquatic Center
- Fletcher High School
- Ft Caroline Pool
- Grand Park Pool
- Harts Road Park – Pool
- Julius Guinyard Pool
- Lakeshore Middle School
- Mandarin High School
- Oceanway Park Pool
- Ribault High School
- Riverside High School
- Samuel Wolfson High School
- Sandalwood High School
- Thomas Jefferson Pool
- Westside (Forrest) High School
- Woodland Acres Pool