The only public pool on Kansas City, Kansas’ East side, Parkwood Pool on Quindaro Boulevard, will sit empty for another year after Unified Government officials say they have struggled to find lifeguards to staff the pool this summer.
Community members are organizing to re-open, renovate and upgrade the more than 40-year-old pool.
David Grigsby owns the Parkwood Barbershop across the street from the pool and can’t stand to see it closed for another year. So, he organized a protest at the Parkwood Pool June 18 at noon and encourages community members to sign a petition, asking city leaders to open the pool back up.
“This is the only thing the kids have for the summer,” Grigsby said. “The kids have been in the house almost two years. They want to get out and swim.”
Andrew Davis, a candidate running for 8th District Commissioner said he will attend the protest.
“I think we really need to ask, ‘are we doing everything we can to get lifeguards?’” Davis said. “I think we have to ask what it looks like to partner with the school districts about how we recruit and how do we get teens interested in being a life guard.”
Davis said investing in parks and youth activities is part of a solution to keep the city safer and prevent crime.
Grigsby asks that anyone who cannot make it to the protest, bring a padlock and hang it on the fence to represent their support. The fence has about 10 padlocks of support so far.
The Unified Government has a paid lifeguard training program. To learn more, visit: https://www.wycokck.org/getattachment/38ea169a-a46a-48c2-a020-dc3eee5cc194/attachment.aspx.