Rochester: Summer recreation schedules, programs to kickoff June 30 with all City pools for first time in five years

~ Rochester, NY - Mayor Malik D. Evans announced today that the city is ready to kick off its summer programming and schedules on June 30. This year, for the first time since 2019, all city pools and the beach at Durand Eastman Park will be open thanks to a successful recruitment effort for lifeguards.

Mayor Evans expressed his excitement about being able to open all of the city's pools this summer, stating that "the unfortunate streak of Rochester not being able to open all of its pools ends this summer because our employees found solutions outside of the box and developed and trained our own crews of certified lifeguards." He also emphasized the importance of these facilities and programs in enriching the lives of children and families in Rochester.

Starting June 30, City R-Centers will be open at 8:30 a.m. from Monday to Friday, with most remaining open until 7:30 p.m. Some centers will also be open on Saturdays during the day. Children who register as members will be served breakfast and lunch.

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The summer recreation programs at R-Centers offer a wide range of activities for children to participate in, including traditional sports, dance classes, cooking classes, and open recreation with lawn games and board games.

Due to a nationwide shortage of lifeguards, some outdoor pools at Honorable Willie Walker and Avenue D R-Centers have not been opened since 2019. However, this year they will join other facilities such as Genesee Valley Park's outdoor pool, Adams Street and Trenton indoor pools, Pamela Jackson R-Center's indoor pool, and Durand Eastman Park's beach in welcoming visitors.

This achievement is a result of a multi-year commitment by the city to provide opportunities for young people to develop swimming skills and become American Red Cross certified lifeguards. In 2023, Mayor Evans raised the starting pay for lifeguards from $15.50 to $20 an hour, and in 2024, the Department of Recreation and Human Services (DRHS) created a full-time Pool Supervisor position to focus on recruitment, development programs, and training opportunities for lifeguards.

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Shalom Singer was hired for this role and has been instrumental in hiring and retaining lifeguards. She has also conducted outreach to local schools and community events to create a more supportive work environment for lifeguards. DRHS also sent her to North Carolina to obtain her American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor certification, which allows her to train other lifeguard instructors who can then train and re-certify lifeguards. This certification is not currently offered in New York State.

Additionally, DRHS has developed a Lifeguard Development Course specifically for city youth to provide them with the necessary swimming skills to advance to the lifeguard training course.

To help cover the costs of these courses, the city has utilized funds from the NY SWIMS Program, which aims to bridge the swim equity gap. These funds will also be used to build a new pool at the Lightfoot Center later this year.

The Summer R-Guide has been published with full schedules for R-Center programs and can be accessed by downloading the Summer 2025 R-Guide. More information about aquatics and recreation can also be found on the city's website.

With all pools now open and a variety of programs available at R-Centers, Rochester's children and families can look forward to an exciting summer filled with fun activities and opportunities for growth.

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