MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. (WXYZ) — Starting today people can have some fun in the sun and enjoy the public pools in Oakland County – but there is a slight catch.
Oakland County Parks and Recreation’s waterparks will stagger their opening days and one beach will discontinue lifeguards, due to a smaller pool of applicants.
Officials say they are working hard to fill lifeguard vacancies, and they’ve had 93 applications within the last week of a public push to find more lifeguards. But it’s going to take time to train those people, which will reduce hours within the first few weeks of opening.
Waterford Oaks Waterpark and the beach at Groveland Oaks County will also be opening on reduced hours before of the lifeguard shortage @wxyzdetroit pic.twitter.com/kui471K0np
— Ali Hoxie (@ali_hoxie) June 7, 2019
Red Oaks waterpark will open today. But they are only open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This Saturday and Sunday, they will be open during normal hours on the weekends, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Next Monday through Friday, they will operate at reduced hours from 11 a.m to 3 p.m. It won't be until the 15th that the park will be open for normal hours during the weekdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The rate at Red Oaks Waterpark will be adjusted to $8/Oakland County resident discount rate and $14/Regular Rate for days with reduced hours only, officials say.
Others reduced hours include Waterford Oaks waterpark and the beach at Groveland Oaks county.
According to the county, "Waterford Oaks Waterpark in Waterford will delay its opening until Monday, June 10. Waterford Oaks Waterpark will operate at reduced hours of 11 a.m.-3 p.m. the entire month of June."
The beach at Groveland Oaks County Park and Campground will not be lifeguarded and will operate as “swim at your own risk” effective June 15. In recent years, OCPR removed the lifeguards at Independence Oaks County Park near Clarkston and found that more patrons used the beach due to extended hours of operation. Eliminating lifeguards at beaches has become the national trend in aquatics industry, according to Wells. State law does not require beaches to have lifeguards.
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