JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With warm summer days ahead, many Jacksonville residents want to cool off in one of the many public pools across the area.
However, half the city pools are now closed, according to a spokesperson, and repairs and staffing shortages are to blame.
The city said there are more than 100 vacant lifeguard positions, but some pools are also in disrepair, like the one in Sunny Acres Park in Arlington that neighbors said has been shuttered for years.
According to the City of Jacksonville, 16 public pools are closed for now while 18 others are open to the public.
A spokesperson said five pools are closed for repairs; two are closed due to staffing shortages; and nine others are closed due to a combination of both issues. The pool at Sunny Acres is among the latter. A renovation project there is underway to create a destination for those with disabilities.
“There are all kinds of cracks and faults and things of sorts. It does make me wonder if it is their initiative to fix, or put a new one in,” said resident Nate Price.
Price said if the pool was cleaned up, people would use it.
“It’s in a secure area. It’s safe,” Price said.
The pool at nearby Woodland Acres has algae at the bottom.
A city spokesperson said it was caused by inconsistent chlorine levels earlier this month. The city said it is working to remove it, and pool service mechanics are troubleshooting the cause and working to fix and replace infrastructure to correct the issue. The goal is to have it back open by this weekend.
No word yet on when other pools that closed for now will be back open.
Terry Parker High School, where the pool water is also green, is on the list of pools closed for repairs.
Pools currently closed for maintenance or staffing issues in Jacksonville
R= Repair/Maintenance
S=Staffing
- Baldwin Middle/High School: R
- Robert Kennedy Pool: R
- San Souci Pool (Adolph Wurn Park): R
- Terry Parker High School: R
- Carvill Park Pool: S
- Charles Clark Pool: R/S
- Ed White High School: R/S
- Emmett Reed Pool: R
- Englewood High School: R/S
- Eugene Butler Pool: S
- Golfair Park Pool (C.T. Brown): R/S
- Highlands Middle School: R/S
- Mallison Park Pool: R/S
- Paxon High School: R/S
- Raines High School: R/S
- Sunny Acres Pool: Overall Park renovation project to create a destination location for citizens with disabilities, R/S