Wills Park Pool has closed for the season due to a shortage of certified life guards, Alpharetta announced Thursday, Sept. 6. The city had planned to keep the pool open for three weekends beyond Labor Day, the facility’s traditional closing date.
“Before coming to this decision, we contacted surrounding cities and counties, private swim organizations, and even reached out to our Department of Public Safety seeking certified lifeguards, all to no avail,” said Morgan Rodgers, the city’s director of recreation.
At least eight life guards must be on duty while the pool is in operation, Rodgers said, but the city has only three certified guards remaining on staff. “We do have plans in place to be able to properly staff the pool during a couple of small events that were planned before the start of the season,” he said.
Nearly all life guards are college and high school students, and most are no longer available once the school year begins, the city said.
Alpharetta officials had thought they had enough life guards on hand to get through September, but their availability changed as they made sports teams and because of academic commitments.
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