Shortage of lifeguards forces Worcester to adjust schedules; Indian Lake Beach closed again

Toni Caushi, Telegram & Gazette
Updated ·2 min read
The swimming area at John J. Binienda Beach at Coes Pond in a file photo.
The swimming area at John J. Binienda Beach at Coes Pond in a file photo.

WORCESTER - Two city beaches will not be staffed with lifeguards this summer, while a third will remain closed for the season, with the city again struggling find lifeguards for swimming spots.

Starting Friday, when the city swim areas will open for the season, there will be no lifeguards watching the beaches at Bell and Coes ponds.

Meanwhile, Indian Lake Beach will not open for the second consecutive year.

Despite the city's efforts to start lifeguard recruitment as early as January, Worcester is short of its target number of 40 to 50 lifeguards.

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"Every effort was made to incentivize employment, including compensation for certification, bathing suit reimbursement and bonus opportunities," said Assistant Commissioner of Parks and Recreation Rob Antonelli Jr. "There is a statewide shortage of lifeguards and internally we’ve run through every scenario possible to get our facilities up and running with an extreme scarcity of staffing."

The lone city-run pool - Crompton Park Pool - will open Tuesday, with limited capacity and lifeguards.

The city's two splash parks, the Cristoforo Colombo and Greenwood spray parks, do not require lifeguards and will be open with normal hours.

After violent attacks against lifeguards in 2021, the city will continue to staff the beaches with police officers who will focus on the unstaffed locations but will also rotate at each location throughout the season. City officials have often connected the lifeguard shortage in part to the incidents.

Here's a list of the open hours for the city's five swim areas and two splash parks:

  • Shore Park Beach will open Saturday until Aug. 20 from noon to 7 p.m. seven days a week and will be staffed with lifeguards.

  • Bell Pond Beach and Coes Pond Beach (John J. Binienda Memorial Beach) will open Friday until Sept. 4 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week but will not be staffed with lifeguards.

  • Crompton Park Pool will open Tuesday until Sept. 4 from noon to 7 p.m. seven days a week at limited capacity and limited lifeguard presence.

  • Cristoforo Colombo Spray Park (East Park) and Greenwood Spray Park will open Friday until Sept. 4 from noon to 7 p.m. seven days a week.

  • Indian Lake Beach will not open for the season.

Residents can also make use of the city's four state-run swim areas, some of which opened Saturday with full lifeguard staff and hours.

The state-run Bennett Field Pool at 1270 Main St. is open every day from 11:15 a.m. to 6:45 p.m., and the Dennis F. Shine Memorial Swimming Pool at 146 Providence St. every day from 11:15 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.

The two beaches off Quinsigamond Lake at 10 North Lake Ave., the Regatta Point and Lake Park beaches, opened May 27.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Shortage of lifeguards forces Worcester to adjust schedules at city pools, beaches