Youngstown’s North Side Pool finally opens tomorrow

YOUNGSTOWN — The city's North Side Pool opens tomorrow after a lifeguard shortage delayed the pool's summer opening.

The pool will be open daily from 1 to 8 p.m., the city's Parks and Recreation Department confirmed.

As a result of low wages, a year off from certification and continued fears about COVID-19, pools all over the country have struggled to hire lifeguards to adequately staff their facilities.

City lifeguards make $10.45 an hour. The city will pay for certifications and ask that lifeguards agree to work for two summers.

After a recent spate of certifications, the pool now has 11 lifeguards.

"After being faced with challenges and the tough decision to delay our season opening after learning the day before our opening that our our team was down to three lifeguards … our story changed .... today I am beyond joyful to announce yet again that DELAY DOES NOT MEAN DENIAL ... IT MEANS WAIT!" read a post on the city's Parks and Recreation Department Facebook page.

This story was originally published July 13, 2021 at 12:30 PM with the headline "Youngstown’s North Side Pool finally opens tomorrow."