Chicago’s outdoor public pools will be open daily this summer, for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic led to a lingering lifeguard shortage.
The seven-day-a-week schedule for 50 pools begins Saturday, just as a sweltering heat wave is forecasted to blanket the city. Twenty-seven indoor pools will also be accessible six days a week, the Park District announced Monday.
The city has struggled with lifeguard shortages for years post-pandemic, prompting the closure of dozens of pools and several beaches. Others operated on limited hours or shortened seasons — last year, Chicago’s outdoor pools were only open six days a week.
Cities nationwide have grappled with similar staffing challenges, attributed in part to the residual effects of COVID-19 lockdowns and travel restrictions.
But the Park District said its lifeguard recruitment efforts led to 3,000 applications this season, up 55% from 2024.
Officials launched several initiatives to combat the shortage in late 2023, including the Lifeguard Explorers Training Program. The program targeted pools in the South and West sides, offering 15- to 22-year-olds a $475 stipend to prepare for the city’s Lifeguard Swim Test.
The salary for lifeguards was also increased to $19.75 an hour from $19 in 2024. Other initiatives included covering the cost of certification fees and collaborating with local schools to boost recruitment, the Park District said.
“Chicagoans can rely on parks to provide access to a vital resource during the hot summer months, while offering hundreds of lifeguards an important job in public service that equips them with strong work experience and essential lifesaving skills,” Park District Superintendent and CEO Carlos Ramirez-Rosa said in a statement.
Most pool hours will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., but residents are encouraged to check specific swim schedules at their local parks. More than 200 water spray features and water playgrounds will also be fully activated across the city by this weekend.
Humboldt Park Beach, the city’s only man-made inland beach, is slated to open Saturday. The city’s 22 lakefront beaches opened May 23 and will remain accessible to visitors through Labor Day.
