Tampa Republic

Tampa's Parks and Recreation Department is facing the challenge of filling seasonal lifeguard positions for the upcoming summer months. Mayor Castor has emphasized the importance of this recruitment effort, noting that any understaffing could lead to reduced hours at the city's 12 pools during the busiest time of year.

Aquatics Team Supervisor Louis Campanello highlighted the initiative of the Rookie School Pre-Test, which allows teenagers interested in becoming lifeguards to assess their skills and readiness for certification. Campanello explained, "We gauge how ready they are to go into a class and will help them be ready to pass the exam when they take it for real."

The Pre-Test includes a 300-yard swim, 2 minutes of treading water using legs only, and retrieving a submerged, 5-pound brick while swimming on the back. These assessments aim to prepare aspiring lifeguards for the challenges they will face in their roles.

Despite efforts starting in February, the Parks and Recreation Department still has 43 lifeguard vacancies to fill within the next 41 days to meet its staffing goals for the summer. In addition to lifeguard positions, there are also year-round part-time openings in aquatics and over 250 part-time jobs available in various areas such as recreation, athletics, arts, and theater.

Parks and Recreation Director Tony Mulkey encouraged individuals to consider these opportunities, stating, "The part-time summer openings in Parks and Recreation offer a paid opportunity to make friends and have fun in a great environment. We are looking for leaders who want to make a difference and improve their community."

As the city of Tampa continues its efforts to recruit lifeguards and other part-time employees, interested individuals can reach out to the Parks and Recreation Department for more information on available positions.