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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Reduced pool hours beginning this week at City of Ocala Aquatic Fun Centers

Due to a shortage of lifeguards, the City of Ocala’s Aquatic Fun Centers will be implementing a reduction in hours of operation beginning on Tuesday, July 12.

According to the American Lifeguard Association, there is currently a nationwide lifeguard shortage that is affecting approximately one-third of the public pools in the United States.

Preston Pooser, Ocala Recreation and Parks Director, stated that this has been an unfortunate trend over the last several years, even before the COVID-19 pandemic. While the City of Ocala began recruitment efforts back in February to fill summer lifeguard positions, only 60% of those positions were filled this summer.

“We must follow stringent state safety guidelines that include a 25-to-1 swimmer to lifeguard ratio. Due to attrition and limited availability of lifeguards to work through the remainder of the summer sessions, we are currently unable to safely staff both pools simultaneously,” said Pooser.

The safety of each guest comes first, and Pooser added that the pool hours and days of operation are being adjusted to ensure that there are enough lifeguards at each facility. In the event that staffing availability changes, then pool hours will be adjusted accordingly.

The Jervey Gantt Aquatic Fun Center (2390 SW 36th Avenue) and the Hampton Aquatic Fun Center (255 NW Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard) will alternate operating days and continue to host two sessions per day.

Hampton Aquatic Fun Center
Hampton Aquatic Fun Center
Jervey Gantt Aquatic Fun Center
Jervey Gantt Aquatic Fun Center

Effective beginning on Tuesday, July 12, pool hours of operations will be as follows:

  • Hampton Aquatic Fun Center
    • Wednesday, July 13 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Friday, July 15 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Tuesday, July 19 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Thursday, July 21 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Saturday, July 23 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Wednesday July 27 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Friday, July 29 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Saturday, July 30 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m (if staffing levels meet safety guidelines).
  • Jervey Gantt Aquatic Fun Center
    • Tuesday, July 12 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Thursday, July 14 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Saturday, July 16 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Wednesday, July 20 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Friday, July 22 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Tuesday, July 26 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Thursday, July 28 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Saturday, July 30 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. (if staffing levels meet safety guidelines).

Admission per session for a single individual is $2 for anyone ages 17 and under, and $3.50 for adults ages 18 and up.

For more information, visit the City of Ocala Aquatic Fun Centers webpage or call the City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department at 352-368-5517.