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Southgate reports rise in aquatics participation; staff note training and staffing gaps
Summary
The Southgate Parks and Recreation Commission received a report on the aquatics division showing increased enrollment and new programs, while staff flagged lifeguard recruitment and adaptive-aquatics training as ongoing challenges.
The Southgate Parks and Recreation Commission on May 8 received an aquatics division report showing higher participation across year-round and summer offerings and new programming designed to boost water competency.
Aquatics Supervisor Leslie said the department recorded a roughly 20% increase in enrollment for summer programs and that “more than 2,800 individuals participated” across the season. Leslie described lessons and classes that ran year-round (private, semi‑private and group lessons for ages as young as six months), specialty youth offerings (junior water polo, junior lifeguards, Surfing 101, Gator Swim Academy), and partnerships that provided lane and practice time to competitive teams. She said the facility hosts three swim teams, including partner organization Southgate Aqua Coalition and two outside clubs named Penguins Aquatic Club and Wood Marlins, and that the season provided “250 of practice time” (as reported) averaging about 200 youths in those programs.
Leslie highlighted recent one‑off events and initiatives: an Aquatics Fitness Expo (now entering its second year), a Splash Fitness membership option, party rentals (about 20 private parties last summer), free community offerings (the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson and a three‑part community swim day series), and the first Easter Splash Fest that sold out at about 250 participants. She also said the pool hosted three USA Swimming meets during the winter, including a two‑day WAG last‑stage qualifier that drew about 800 swimmers and roughly 1,500 spectators.
On staffing and training, Leslie said the national lifeguard shortage that began during COVID continues to affect hiring. She said the department recruits lifeguards starting at age 16 and that turnover is “about anywhere from 4 to 8 years” for regular lifeguards, with some supervisors serving far longer. The department held at least one lifeguard certification course and a senior lifeguard mentorship program (about eight participants) and promoted lifeguards into supervisory roles. More than 50 staff members completed mandated‑reporter training and the department continues to offer CPR classes; Leslie announced CPR classes scheduled for May 24–25 and an ongoing lifeguard certification course.
Leslie and commissioners discussed adaptive aquatics and adult‑focused water competency options. Leslie said all programs are intended to be inclusive but that the department currently lacks a specialized adaptive‑aquatics program and has not found an outside organization to provide staff training for more advanced adaptive offerings. She described a new youth/adult swim clinic focused on water competency (not traditional stroke instruction) that had more than 20 participants and is being considered for summer expansion.
Commissioners asked about survey outreach; Leslie said the swim‑stadium portion of the department’s survey had yielded about 30 responses so far and that staff would keep the survey open over the summer and expand promotion (QR codes at events, emailed links to members). Chair Flores and other commissioners encouraged broader distribution through community pages.
The commission voted to receive and file the aquatics report.
