Worcester Will Open Beaches, Pools, Splash Pads In July

WORCESTER, MA — Worcester is planning to open all city beaches, pools and spray parks next month, which will come after recent drownings here and across the state, an early heat wave and a national lifeguard shortage.

On July 1, residents will be able to escape the summer heat at four freshwater beaches, a pool at Crompton Park and spray parks at Greenwood Park and Cristoforo Colombo Park. There are also state-operated beaches and pools across the city.

Although many residents have been using city beaches this spring, the July 1 season start means lifeguards will be watching over swimmers. Worcester is still looking to hire lifeguards at $16 per hour. Many cities and towns across Massachusetts are having trouble hiring due to a range of factors, from fewer people learning to swim during the pandemic to the complex lifeguard training process

There have already been at least seven drowning incidents over the past two weeks in Massachusetts from Framingham to Dedham to Amesbury. In Worcester on Friday, a city police officer and a 14-year-old boy drowned at a Green Hill Park pond that's not sanctioned for swimming.

The drownings came amid an ongoing heat wave, where temperatures soared into the mid-90s across much of the state this week, driving residents to beaches and pools.

Here's where and when you can swim in Worcester beginning July 1, and sooner for some state facilities:

City of Worcester

• Cristoforo Colombo/East Spray Park, 180 Shrewsbury St.
• Crompton Park Pool 50 Canton St.
• Greenwood Spray Park 14 Forsberg St.
• Indian Lake Beach 20 Clason Rd.
• Bell Pond Beach, 238 Belmont St.
• John J. Binienda Memorial Beach 180 Mill St.
• Shore Park Beach 115 Shore Drive

Department of Conservation and Recreation

• Dennis F. Shine Memorial Swimming Pool, 146 Providence St. (opens June 26, 11:15 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.)
• Quinsigamond State Park, 10 N. Lake Ave.
• Veterans Memorial (Bennett Field) Swimming Pool, 1270 Main St. (opens June 26, 11:15 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.)