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Lifeguarding Services return to Park Point Beach House

[Duluth, MN] The City of Duluth and the Duluth Area Family YMCA are excited to announce the return of lifeguarding services to the Park Point Beach House again this summer. After a push for lifeguard applicants this spring, the YMCA was able to recruit the needed applicants. Lifeguards monitor safety conditions and provide residents and visitors a publicly accessible place to enjoy Lake Superior with trained and knowledgeable Lifeguards keeping watch. Lifeguard services will resume Memorial Day weekend and continue through Labor Day on a schedule that provides more guard hours on typical high use days. Hours of lifeguard services can be found below.

This service is funded through a $46,000 allocation of 2022 Tourism Tax funds and $6,500 supplementation from the Property, Parks, and Library Department. Since approval of Tourism Tax allocations, economic impacts leading to a need for market rate wage adjustments impacted the Duluth Y’s ability to attract lifeguard applicants. Wage increases did lead to increased applicants to guard the beach this summer, but additional funding was needed to maintain service hours. The absence of additional funding would have reduced the number of guard hours at the Beach House for the season.

The Duluth Fire Department will continue to support beach safety through managing flags, electronic signs, and emergency response. Flags and rescue stations will be in place starting May 26, 2022 for the season.

Up-to-date beach conditions are posted on parkpointbeach.org

The public may access restrooms and use the Beach House during public hours when no special events are scheduled. Instead of concessions, food trucks will be onsite on select days to offer food and refreshments for purchase. Food trucks interested in providing such services should contact parks@duluthmn.gov.

“The Duluth Y and the City would like to thank the community for your efforts in helping spread the word on lifeguard recruitment earlier this spring,” said Alicia Watts, Parks and Recreation Assistant Manager. “Parks and Rec truly appreciates the efforts of the Duluth Y and Duluth Fire Department to provide important beach safety services to the public again this summer.”

The Park Point Beach House and Picnic Shelters are available for rental through Parks and Recreation. More information can be found here (duluthmn.gov/parks/register).

Lifeguarding Hours:

A digital version of this calendar can be found here: https://duluthmn.gov/media/13565/2022-lifeguard-service-hours.pdf

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