Chicago Park District offering $500 hiring bonuses for lifeguards

Lifeguard, flotation device Photo credit Getty Images

By Nancy Harty

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The Chicago Park District is offering $500 bonuses to hire lifeguards ahead of Memorial Day weekend and the scheduled opening of city beaches next Friday.

The district says only a small number of candidates are going through the hiring process, despite what it calls a “favorable” number of qualified people applying.

The bonuses are designed to defray the cost of the required testing, which costs $100.

Lifeguards will earn $15.88 an hour. Last year, many park districts struggled to hire lifeguards and Chicago closed its indoor pools because of the shortage.

The current challenge also follows a sex abuse scandal in the park district, which led to the resignation of Supt. Mike Kelly.