The continuing shortage of lifeguards has forced Philadelphia to leave some of the city pools closed, which has stirred frustration in some neighborhoods that are feeling neglected, writes Elise Young for The New York Times.

While residents are able to enjoy all the advantages of a pool on a warm summer day in West Philadelphia, roughly a mile away, in the Overbrook Park neighborhood, the public pool has been closed since July 2019.

“They say it’s a lifeguard shortage,” said 71-year-old Joy Watson. “My question is, you’ve got all these other pools open, and you can’t swap the lifeguards around?”

This lifeguard shortage is affecting the entire nation, with around a third of public pools in America being affected by it last year.

Philadelphia’s parks and recreation department has been spending millions to ready its public pools for this year, especially knowing that we are looking at one of the hottest summers in history.

The department has spent millions more than in previous years and has already promised to open 61 of its 70 pools for either the whole or part of the season.

Read more about the city pools in The New York Times.

_______

The ongoing nationwide lifeguard shortage is causing concerns about staffing at beaches and pools.