This story has been updated.
Starting next weekend, San Antonians can splash into city pools every weekend afternoon until the regular pool season begins June 17.
The City of San Antonio’s Parks and Recreation Department originally planned to open 11 pools on Saturday, but heavy rains expected this weekend pushed opening weekend back to May 20.
Starting then, the 11 early-season pools will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is free and swimwear must be worn to enter the pool.
Pools at the following parks are scheduled open next weekend:
- Concepcion Park at 600 E. Theo Pkwy.
- Cuellar Park at 502 S.W. 36th St.
- Dellview Park at 500 Basswood
- Elmendorf Park at 235 Shore Dr.
- Fairchild Park at 1214 E. Crockett St.
- Garza Park at 5800 Hemphill
- Heritage Pool at 1423 S. Ellison Dr.
- Lady Bird Johnson Park at 10700 Nacogdoches Road
- Southside Lions Park at 3100 Hiawatha
- Spring Time Park at 6571 Spring Time
- Woodlawn Lake Park at 221 Alexander Ave.
The city is also hiring lifeguards to staff all city pools. Last year, a lifeguard shortage affected the city’s pool season. Only eight pools opened preseason, compared to 11 this year.
Nikki Ramos, assistant director of the Parks and Recreation Department, told San Antonio City Council last week that the department was “not where they need to be,” in terms of staffing at pools, but as students end the school year, the department expected an increase in applications.
Ramos also told the council summer pool season hours will be extended by one hour and that extended pool season will go into September. That could make it a challenge to keep the youth workforce it hires in early summer, as many schools start their fall semesters in August.
This year, all 25 pools will open for the regular season, including 24 outdoor pools and the natatorium indoor pool at The Roosevelt Park Pool will open later this summer once construction upgrades are complete.
The city has hired 170 lifeguards thus far, of which 150 are fully trained. The remainder are in training or scheduled to start training, according to the parks and recreation department. Another 70 applicants are going through the hiring process and the department needs to need to hire 60 more.
The city is offering a $500 hiring incentive, lower than the $1,000 incentive last year, but it has increased starting pay from $12.45 an hour to $17.50 an hour. The city also will pay for applicants to get their lifeguard certifications and offers a $75 uniform stipend.
To be a lifeguard, a person must be at least 16 years old and successfully complete the American Red Cross certification.
Those interested in applying can attend the Summer Job Fair and Lifeguard Clinic on May 20 at Quintero Community Center, at 3100 Hiawatha St., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
