Beating the Heat: Expanding Access to Swimming Pools

Los Angeles County has extended the swim season for public pools to five months, keeping facilities open six days a week through October 31 to provide relief from the hot weather. County Supervisor Janice Hahn announced the extended season at the Don Knabe Regional Park Pool in Cerritos, emphasizing the need for access to pools during some of the hottest days in September and October. Previously, the traditional swim season lasted only 10 weeks, which Hahn noted was inadequate for residents during the later, hotter months.

The extended season features a variety of activities, including low-cost swim team programs, senior aquatic exercise, and the Parks After Dark pool events series. Norma E. García-Gonzalez, director of L.A. County Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), expressed excitement about reopening all pools for the first time in five years and offering a range of aquatic programs to the public. The extended season aims to better meet community needs by providing much needed water-based recreational opportunities for residents.

To support the extended swim season, DPR made significant efforts to recruit and train lifeguards, hiring 356 new pool lifeguards and rehiring 224 returning lifeguards, bringing the total to nearly 600. Additionally, the county invested in new pool lighting to accommodate swimmers during the shorter daylight hours in the fall, ensuring that the facilities remain accessible and enjoyable for all residents throughout the extended season.