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Recreation Commission reports full pool staffing and lifeguard training, warns teen programming and maintenance face funding and staffing pressures
Summary
Cincinnati Recreation Commission Director Daniel Betts said CRC trained 236 lifeguards to open all 24 pools, increased teen-program attendance, and exceeded youth employment goals, but cited a need for funding to avoid turning teens away and to address hard-to-fill positions.
Daniel Betts, director of the Cincinnati Recreation Commission, told the committee CRC trained 236 lifeguards and is on track to open all 24 public pools. The commission reported meeting or exceeding performance goals for teen programming and youth employment, but warned that funding constraints, federal grant uncertainty (CDBG) and staffing shortages limit expansion.
Betts said CRC’s total budget is roughly $35 million, with about 55% coming from the general fund and restricted funds (golf, special activities) making up the balance. He described personnel and fringe as 82–84% of the general-fund budget and said recent FTE changes reflect conversions of part-time into full-time positions.
The commission reported a 5% quarterly participation increase in several teen programs and said Rec at Night — a late-night teen-focused program piloted last year — drew larger-than-expected crowds (about 300 attendees at each pilot site). Betts said CRC plans to hire a separate part-time team for summer teen programming to avoid burnout among day-camp staff.
On youth employment, Betts said the Mayor’s Career Expo drew 400–500 young people; CRC officials said they will follow up with data on how many expo attendees obtained jobs. On childcare, CRC reported maintaining approximately 80% available capacity in licensed childcare and summer-camp programming; the director said state subsidy structures apply to family eligibility and that those funds appear secure for now.
Council members pressed CRC about hard-to-fill positions (chiefly senior engineers in planning and maintenance roles) and about how many teens are turned away from programs due to funding. Betts said staffing and sustained funding are CRC priorities and requested council support for facilities and capital improvements.
Ending: Committee members praised CRC’s lifeguard and pool results and encouraged follow-up on employment outcomes from the career expo and clearer requests on capital priorities.
