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Waukesha County beach swim season opens May 27 without lifeguards
Waukesha County Parks beach swimming season will open with Swim at Your Own Risk (SAYOR) hours at six beach locations on Friday, May 27. There will be no lifeguards staffed at any beaches this season due to the labor shortage.
WAUKESHA COUNTY, Wis. - Waukesha County Parks beach swimming season will open with Swim at Your Own Risk (SAYOR) hours at six beach locations on Friday, May 27. There will be no lifeguards staffed at any beaches this season due to the labor shortage.
"Our park beaches are a top summer attraction for both residents and visitors, and we are glad we have swim at your own risk options available at all locations to allow public access to the water when no lifeguards are available," said Paul Farrow, Waukesha County Executive. "I invite everyone to get outside and enjoy the sun and sand!"
The Waukesha County Parks Department says high school kids are too busy with sports and internships, so they are passing up typical summer jobs like lifeguarding.
NagaWaukee Beach
"We did start recruiting in January for lifeguards. We didn’t get the number of applicants to fully staff the beaches – or even fully staff one of them," said County Parks System Manager Rebecca Mattano.
She says one thing kept teens from taking the job: "Pay is obviously a competing factor as well."
Waukesha County was offering starting pay at $10.55 an hour. Milwaukee County lifeguards start at $15.82 – and they are also struggling to fill positions.
Both tried to target applicants still in high school – people like Elizabeth Oakley.
"When I talk to my friends about what they are doing for summer jobs – they say fast food – you don’t hear a lot of people talk about lifeguards," she said.
Plus, there’s another big turn-off…
"I just know personally, I couldn’t lifeguard. I could swim but not that well. I don’t know if I could save a person’s life when needed," said Oakley.
Waukesha County offered free training and flexible hours, but compete with places like McDonald's
All six Waukesha County Park System beaches will offer Swim at Your Own Risk (SAYOR) hours from sunrise to sunset daily through Sunday, September 25*, as weather and water conditions allow.
Waukesha County Parks Beaches:
- Fox Brook Park, 2925 N. Barker Road, Brookfield (*SAYOR Hours end Tuesday, September 6)
- Menomonee Park, W220 N7884 Townline Road, Menomonee Falls
- Minooka Park, 1927 E. Sunset Drive, Waukesha
- Mukwonago Park, S100 W31900 C.T.H. LO, Mukwonago
- Muskego Park, S83 W20370 Janesville Road, Muskego
- Naga-Waukee Park, 651 S.T.H 83, Hartland
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High Roller Fun Rentals will be renting canoes, kayaks, and paddle boats at Fox Brook and Menomonee Parks. For more information about their services, visit www.highrollerfunrentals.com.
Waukesha County says it will use money previously allocated for lifeguards to pay for seasonal workers who, for example, clean the beaches.
Directors say they are confident they’ll be able to fill those positions.
For a more information about park beaches, visit www.waukeshacounty.gov/swimming.