Houston’s Parks and Recreation Department is aiming to open as many public pools as possible this summer — something that hasn’t happened in years due to the pandemic, lifeguard shortages and aging infrastructure.
Houston operates 38 public pools. This summer, 31 are scheduled to open, while the remaining seven are undergoing repairs and maintenance. One of those — at the Tidwell Community Center — is in the midst of a major renovation and is expected to reopen by early 2027.
To fully staff the pools, the department has launched an aggressive lifeguard recruitment campaign. One strategy: lowering the minimum age for lifeguards to 15 from 16, following the lead of cities like Austin and Dallas…