Opening, but limited

The public will be able to race down the water slide, go for a dip or simply sunbathe this Memorial Day weekend as Portland Water Park opens for the season. How often it will be open remains in question.

The status of the water park’s scheduled for the year continues to be up in the air because of a shortage of lifeguards. But Portland Mayor John Boggs emphasized the importance of the facility to the community.

“It’s vital for children to have something to do during the summertime,” said Mayor John Boggs. “I’m happy we’re going to be able to (open). I was very doubtful for a while … it would be a shame to have such an investment and not have the manpower to run it.”

Water park manager Missy Bader said plans are to open the pool at noon Saturday. Currently, though, there are only 11 lifeguards hired. In 2020, the facility had 25-plus lifeguards for the season.

“I’m still doing my very best to get some people hired –– we’re still very short on lifeguards,” said Bader, who has seven returning lifeguards from last year. (Three of those on staff will only be working part-time.)

She explained that pools around the state are having the same staffing issues.

The shortage makes for a difficult scheduling situation.

Rather than having a set schedule, the water park will post its hours on a weekly, or even day-to-day, basis based on lifeguard availability. Boggs said he hopes the pool can be open as often as possible. 

But prior commitments for staff may limit that opportunity.

“We will open when we can,” Bader added. “I can’t tell someone they can’t go on family vacation because they have to work at the pool.”

With a staff heavily consisting of high school students, the water park will only be open on weekends until Jay School Corporation begins summer break. (Jay Schools will be in session through June 11 because the start of the school year was delayed in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.)

A post on the water park’s Facebook page Thursday indicated that the facility will likely be closed on June 12, 13 and 20 and July 10, 16, 17 and 18 because of the staffing shortage.

The water park will likely close for the season when Jay Schools reopen Aug. 12 instead of staying open through Labor Day. There’s also a possibility there may be at least one or two weekends the water park won’t be open because of the lifeguard shortage, Bader noted. Rentals may not be available, either.

Bader encouraged local residents to watch the water park Facebook page for updates and call before visiting to check if the pool is open. 

Portland Water Park is hiring throughout the summer until all staffing positions are filled. Starting pay for new lifeguards is $9 an hour. For each year of experience, returning lifeguards will receive an extra 25 cents per hour. Anyone with lifeguard certification is encouraged to contact the Portland Water Park for more information. The park can be reached at (260) 726-6653.