photo by: Nick Krug

The Lawrence Outdoor Aquatic Center, pictured Thursday, July 7, 2016.

The Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department is tentatively planning to open the outdoor pool on June 14.

After not being able to open the public pool last summer because of the coronavirus pandemic, the city previously announced it would open the pool this summer, but due to a shortage of lifeguards it would not be ready to open at its traditional time on Memorial Day weekend. At the time, the city needed to hire about 100 more lifeguards to open all areas of both the indoor and outdoor pools.

The plan to open the Outdoor Aquatic Center, 727 Kentucky St., on June 14 is dependent on the current group of lifeguard applicants completing their required training and certification, according to a city news release. Aquatics Supervisor Lori Madaus told the Journal-World on Friday that the first lifeguard class starts on Tuesday, and as long as everyone achieves certification, the department will be able to open the pool June 14.

To begin with, the outdoor pool will be open for recreational swimming from 1 to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 1 to 6 p.m. on the weekends. The Indoor Aquatic Center, 4706 Overland Drive, will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. The news release states that additional hours will be added as lifeguards are trained and hired throughout the summer.

Madaus said the department is still looking for about 70 lifeguards and swimming instructors. The department’s learn-to-swim program should begin in July as staff is hired, trained and certified, according to the news release.

Those who are interested in applying to be a lifeguard, swim instructor or any Parks and Rec open part-time position can apply on the city’s website at lawrenceks.org/jobs.