LOUISVILLE, Ky. — With summer approaching, public pools are opening across the state but swimmers may need to plan ahead, with a lifeguard shortage forcing some changes.

It's an all too familiar site during the pandemic, gates locked and pool closed signs. But this summer that all comes to an end as Louisville Parks and Recreation reopen three public outdoor swimming pools.

Algonquin, Fairdale and Sun Valley open to the public on May 29, but facilities across the state are faced with an even bigger problem this season – a lifeguard shortage.

That's a problem Keith Smith, Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation Aquatics Supervisor, believes is due to the pandemic.

“We think its due to possibly COVID-19 because last year everyone wasn't able to work swimming pools and now their certifications have expired and they probably got other jobs,” Smith said.

A lifeguard is tasked with the important job of eliminating any threats to safeguard swimmers, but the lack of lifeguards is now posing a threat.

“We’ll be doing like what we did last year, all the supervisors will be working at the pools. I know this weekend each supervisor has one or two lifeguards with them and we are working the pools this weekend to make sure we have all the pools open,” Smith said.

The Metro pools will be operating at 75% of normal capacity until June 11 when capacity limits return to pre-covid levels. But they need 20-25 total lifeguards to have a full staff.

“Everytime kids are in the pool you gotta have a lifeguard on duty and anytime that lifeguard is on duty they have multiple peoples lives in their hands and we need to make sure we keep everyone safe at all times during the pool operation,” Smith said.

Louisville Parks and Recreation will host another lifeguard class on June 7-11 at Mary T Meagher Aquatic Center from 4-9 p.m. Anyone who decides to work for the pools will be able to attend the class free of charge.