With two weeks to go for City lifeguards to lock in a $500 end-of-season bonus, City encourages candidates to act now PHILADELPHIA,
May 1, 2023 – Philadelphia Parks & Recreation announced expanded hours and locations for the City’s free lifeguard training program. Applicants can now choose from five locations in the city to get the free training needed to work as a City lifeguard this summer.
Samuel Playground Pool in Port Richmond and The Roxborough YMCA are the newest locations available to train the City’s lifeguards. Free lifeguard training is available seven days a week at five locations across the city.
Samuel Recreation Center, 3539 Gaul St., Philadelphia, PA, 19134, Mondays through Fridays from 4:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Roxborough YMCA, 7201 Ridge Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19128, Fridays from 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Abraham Lincoln High School, 3201 Ryan Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19136, Mondays through Fridaysfrom 4:00-8:30 p.m.
Friends Select School, 17th & Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103, Saturdays and Sundays from 12:30-4:30 p.m.
St. Joseph’s Preparatory School, 1733 W Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19130, Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:00-8:00 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Samuel Playground Pool is the City’s only heated outdoor pool and is now open to train and recruit lifeguards.
“Parks & Rec needs to hire between 350-400 lifeguards this summer to staff Philadelphia’s 60+ free outdoor public pools,” said Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell. “With two weeks left for candidates to lock in a $500 end-of-season bonus, we’re ramping up efforts to recruit the lifeguards we need to open all available public pools this summer.”
The first step for candidates interested in becoming lifeguards is to brush up on swimming skills and prepare for the lifeguard screening test. Potential lifeguards can sign up for the screening test at
All potential lifeguards must pass the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Lifeguard Screening Test. To pass the test you must: Swim 300 yards non-stop (12 laps of freestyle or breaststroke). This is not a timed swim, but you must continuously swim the 12 lengths and not stop, or you will need to start over.
Tread water for two minutes using only your legs without your hands.
Retrieve a 10-pound brick from a deep well. Return to the surface and swim 20 yards back to the starting point with the brick, using only your legs. The brick must be held out of the water with both hands. You must complete this task within one minute and 40 seconds.
“Learning to swim is a life lesson, and a lifesaving lesson,” said Water Safety Instructor Thelma Nesbitt. ‘Parks & Rec lifeguards are heroes. They save lives on the pool deck and in the shallow end–teaching the next generation how to swim.” Learn more and apply today at: phila.gov/lifeguards.
Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR) advances the prosperity of the city and the progress of its people through stewardship of nearly 10,200 acres of public land and waterways and management of 500 recreation buildings, 166 miles of trail, and 250 playgrounds. PPR offers safe, enjoyable recreation, environmental, and cultural programs, and events throughout Philadelphia’s parks and recreation system.
Visit us at www.phila.gov/parksandrec, and follow @philaparkandrec on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
