There were some disappointed kids – and adults – who had hoped to get a final swim in at Bur-Mil Park pool on the long Labor Day weekend – the last time county pools are open for the 2021 season. 

Due to a shortage of lifeguards caused by COVID-19, Bur-Mil Park pool was shut down early for the 2021 season, leaving some want-to-be swimmers high and dry.

Hagan-Stone Park and Northeast Park pools – the other two pools run by Guilford County – were open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 4 and on Monday, Sept. 6.  On Sunday, Sept. 5, those two pools were open from noon to 6 p.m.

COVID-19 – which has caused a whole lot of events and festivities to fall by the wayside in the last year and a half – hit the county’s supply of lifeguards.

Guilford County Manager Mike Halford explained the situation to the commissioners at the board’s Thursday, Sept. 2 meeting.

“We are struggling with lifeguard issues at the pool,” Halford told the commissioners, citing COVID-19 as the cause.

He said the shortage would cause Bur-Mil pool to close and added that the county would attempt to “shift capacity” to the other pools.

In response to a question from a commissioner at the meeting, Halford said it was decided which pool would be closed by looking at usage numbers.

County parks officials are reminding everyone that pool hours are now contingent upon a variety of factors and are subject to change in what is a very fluid situation.  They “strongly encourage” anyone planning to hit the pools this weekend to check the county’s website or Facebook page before putting on their swimsuits and piling into the car.

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