Indy Parks to open these pools amid staffing shortage; how to get free admission

Claire Rafford, Indianapolis Star
·4 min read

June 6, 2022, update: A previous version of this story stated eight pools would open on June 4. However, Indy Parks later announced Indy Island Aquatic Center would be closed while the pool is repaired. It's unclear when the center will reopen. Additionally, Ellenberger Park's pool did not open June 4 due to a mechanical issue, but is expected to reopen soon, an Indy Parks spokesperson said.

Original story: Despite staffing issues, you can still make a splash this summer at some Indy Parks pools.

The department announced Thursday that while some of the department's 17 pools would open in a limited rollout due to staffing issues, another wave of openings could follow.

“We will continue to evaluate staffing levels and ways to get them up and running this summer,” Phyllis Boyd, director of Indy Parks, said in a press release. “I am so grateful to our entire team for their efforts to train new and returning staff and their commitment to get our parks ready for an enjoyable pool season."

What Indy Parks pools will be open summer 2022?

On June 4, Indy Parks will open the following pool locations:

  • Bethel Park, 2850 Bethel Avenue

  • Frederick Douglass Park, 1616 E. 25th St.

  • Garfield Park, 2345 Pagoda Drive

  • Perry Park, 451 E. Stop 11 Rd.

  • Thatcher Park, 4649 W. Vermont St.

  • Willard Park, 1901 E. Washington St.

Indy Island Aquatic Center, located at 8575 E. Raymond St., is closed for maintenance and will reopen within a couple of weeks, according to a press release from Indy Parks.

Additionally, Ellenberger Park's pool, located at 5301 E. St Clair St., is not currently open due to a mechanical issue, Indy Parks spokesperson Ronnetta Spalding said. The pool is expected to reopen soon, according to a Facebook post.

When are Indy Parks pools open?

Pool hours will be 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. The pools will be open Wednesday through Sunday and closed Monday and Tuesday, the press release said. Thatcher Park Pool will be closed on Sundays, according to Indy Parks' website.

"Pools offer a whole host of benefits to parents," Mayor Joe Hogsett said in the press release. "They represent a great place for safe, supervised play; they are a perfect summer alternative to screen time; and they promote healthy activity while socializing with friends."

How much are pool passes at Indy Parks? Free to residents.

Pool admission will be free this summer for Marion County residents. Fees for non-Marion County visitors will vary by pool location, but will range between $2 to $5 for children and adults, according to a press release from Indy Parks.

Free pool passes will be available starting next week at any pool location or Indy Parks Family Center, as well as at the customer service center at Riverside Regional Park and the Eagle Creek Administration Building. For a full list of registration locations, go to www.indy.gov/activity/summer-pools.

Visitors who wish to receive a free pool pass, which will be valid throughout the summer, must be a Marion County resident, and adults will have to show proof of residency. This can include state-issued ID, utility bill, school enrollment information or even a rent or mortgage statement.

Additional pools could open later in the summer. Gustafson Park's pool, located at 3110 Moller Rd., is having maintenance work done and could open after the Fourth of July holiday, the press release said.

The staffing shortage has affected the department's ability to open all the city's pools. Out of 377 total summer positions, including cashiers, pool managers, counselors and more, only 192 had been filled.

For lifeguards in particular, 81 people have been hired out of 224 total lifeguard positions, leaving 143 jobs unfilled as of Thursday, according to a news release.

Senior manager of aquatics Jordan Elder said the agency is working to share staff between parks while still offering breaks and time off for employees.

"We are still reviewing applications, interacting with youth and adults during job fairs and doing whatever it takes to fill remaining positions with qualified staff," Elder said in the press release. "I started as a summer lifeguard and now proudly work as part of the senior management team."

People interested in applying for a summer job at Indy Parks should go to the Indy Parks Summer Jobs page: bit.ly/3GmMUqe.

Contact IndyStar trending reporter Claire Rafford at crafford@gannett.com or on Twitter @clairerafford.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis' Indy Parks to offer limited pool rollout, citing staffing