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Murfreesboro panel raises minimum unsupervised age for pools to 13
Summary
The Parks and Recreation Commission approved a policy change raising the minimum unsupervised age at aquatic facilities to 13, with exceptions for approved groups or camps; staff said the change aligns with regional practice and aims to improve safety and consistency.
The Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Commission on Tuesday approved a change to its facilities policy that raises the minimum age for unaccompanied children at aquatic facilities to 13.
Staff member Kyle urged the change, saying: "I'm here with a proposal to adjust our policy and allowing unaccompanied youth into our aquatic facilities," and explained the department had benchmarked the policy against other midstate jurisdictions and found 13 to be the most commonly used threshold. He added caveats that younger children could access pools when part of an approved group or camp.
The move follows staff concern about managing supervision at pools and comes without a contested public comment period; commissioners voted to approve the change by roll call. Supporters said the change brings Murfreesboro in line with regional peers and provides clearer guidance for lifeguards and patrons.
Next steps include updating posted policies and patron communications ahead of the busy fall pool season; staff said they will return if further operational changes are needed.
