Getting Ready for the Water: Quincy Begins Planning for New Aquatic Center Operations
Staff training, safety plans, and expanded programs are already underway as the city prepares for the pool’s opening.
TL:DR — What You Need to Know
Quincy is already preparing how to safely operate the new aquatic center before it opens.
The new facility will require nearly double the lifeguards compared to the old city pool, potentially 9–10 guards on duty at a time.
Staff are developing new safety plans and emergency procedures ahead of updated national aquatic safety standards expected in Washington by 2027.
Recreation leaders are also exploring new programming, including movie nights at the pool, water fitness classes, and expanded swim activities.
Construction on the aquatic center is still reported to be on schedule, though an official opening date has not yet been announced.
Why This Matters for Quincy
The new aquatic center is one of the largest recreation investments the city has made in years.
For many families, it will become a summer gathering place for kids, swim lessons, and community events. Preparing staffing, safety procedures, and programming now helps ensure the facility opens ready to operate safely — and that Quincy can get the most out of the new pool once it welcomes its first swimmers.
Getting Ready for the Water: Quincy Begins Planning for New Aquatic Center Operations
The question around Quincy’s new aquatic center has mostly been about when it will open.
But behind the scenes, another question is already shaping the future of the facility: how exactly will the city run it safely once the water goes in?
From lifeguard staffing to safety planning and expanded programs, city recreation staff are already laying the groundwork for operating what will be one of Quincy’s most complex public facilities.
Some of that preparation came into view during this week’s Quincy City Council meeting, when recreation staff shared an update on training, safety planning, and programming ideas for the new aquatic center.
The discussion offered one of the clearest looks yet at what it will actually take to operate the new facility once construction is finished and the city prepares to welcome swimmers.
While the construction continues Quincy’s new aquatic center, city staff are already working behind the scenes on what it will take to safely operate the facility once the gates open.
One of the biggest differences will be staffing.
“Our old pool operated with five guards on deck. With the new facility, because of the lazy river, climbing walls, and slide areas, we’re looking at potentially nine to ten lifeguards on deck at once.”
According to the recreation department, the previous city pool typically operated with five lifeguards on duty at a time. The new aquatic center, with multiple water features and activity areas, will require nearly twice that number — potentially nine to ten guards on deck at once.
The increase isn’t simply because the pool is larger. It’s because of the variety of features the new facility will include and a larger overall layout to accommodate those features
The aquatic center will feature elements such as a lazy river, climbing walls, slides, and multiple water areas, all of which require different guard positions and visibility zones.
Staff explained that even though the square footage of water may not be dramatically larger than the old facility, the layout and attractions create more areas that must be actively monitored.
To prepare for that shift, the city recently sent aquatics leadership to a national training conference hosted by the Association of Aquatic Professionals in Colorado Springs, where municipal pool operators from around the country share best practices on safety and operations.
Much of the training focused on risk management — including a topic that might surprise many people: why trained lifeguards sometimes fail to recognize drowning victims.
The session explored how factors like pool layout, distractions, and staffing placement can affect how quickly lifeguards identify someone in distress.
Those lessons are already being applied as Quincy develops new Emergency Action Plans, commonly referred to as EAPs.
These plans outline how staff respond to situations ranging from medical emergencies to weather events, missing swimmers, and other safety incidents. Every lifeguard and staff member must be trained to follow them.
The city is also preparing for changes coming at the state level.
Washington is expected to adopt the CDC’s Model Aquatic Health Code by 2027, a set of national guidelines designed to improve safety and operational standards for public pools.
Because of that upcoming change, Quincy is developing a more comprehensive pool-specific safety plan now rather than waiting until the new standards become mandatory.
Along with safety planning, the recreation department is also exploring ways to expand programming once the facility opens.
“I don’t necessarily want to get rid of the schedule that’s worked well for our community. What we’re really trying to do is add to it.”
Officials say the goal is not to replace the schedule residents are familiar with, but to build on it.
Ideas discussed include:
Movie nights at the pool
Additional water fitness programs such as Aqua Zumba
Programs for parents with young children
Swim development programs that help prepare teens for future lifeguard roles
Non-competitive swim groups for kids who enjoy swimming but don’t want to compete
The new facility’s lighting will also allow the city to consider evening programming, something the previous pool was limited in offering.
Staff emphasized that much of what can be added will depend on hiring and training enough lifeguards to safely operate the facility.
Recruiting and developing that workforce will be an important part of the next phase of preparation.
City officials say planning will continue as construction progresses and as the recreation department gets closer to being able to access the facility itself.
While an exact opening date has not yet been announced, engineering staff told the council the aquatic center remains on schedule, and an updated construction timeline is expected in the coming weeks.
When the new pool does open, it will represent one of the most significant recreational investments Quincy has made in years — and the work to operate it safely is already well underway.
For many Quincy families, the new aquatic center represents more than just a place to swim. It’s expected to become a central gathering space during the summer months — a place for kids, parents, and neighbors to spend time together.
While construction continues, the work happening now behind the scenes — from safety planning to staffing and programming — is part of making sure that when the gates finally open, the new pool is ready to serve the community for years to come.
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