City of Houston

Houston hopes to fill at least 200 lifeguard positions for 2023 swimming season

Currently the city has over 950 lifeguard recruits, nearly triple last year’s 345 recruits.

| April 10, 2023, 10:59 AM (Last Updated: April 10, 2023, 1:29 PM)

A lifeguard teaching children how to swim at a Houston pool. Houston’s Parks and Rec Department says they hope to fill at least 200 positions in order to open all of its pools for 2023.

After closing multiple pools due to a lifeguard shortage last summer, Houston’s Parks and Recreation Department said they are more prepared this year with the 2023 swimming season coming up.

Currently the city has over 950 lifeguard recruits, nearly triple last year’s 345 recruits. Although the city has not officially hired any lifeguards yet, officials say they need to hire at least 200 to open up all of its aquatic facilities.

In an emailed statement, Thomas Angelos with the Parks and Recs department said things are much better this year because schools are allowing them to recruit on campus. He added that this time last year, the city only had 25 people complete its classroom training. As of the end of last week, 44 have.

“However, we still need 156 candidates that possess the swimming skills to complete the training and the hiring process,” Angelos said.

Angelos didn’t say exactly how many pools they expect to open.

“We are looking to staff all pools and we will open as many pools as we can safely,” Angelos said.

Last season, pools were opened on an alternating basis on alternating days. Angelos said alternating days may still be an option, depending on the number of qualified applicants the city gets.

“By mid-to-late-May decisions will be made about what pools open safely,” he said.

The Parks and Recs department currently oversees 38 aquatic facilities, and according to its website, 24 are currently closed.