Philly Phreeze News Today

“Everyone who jumps will help raise the funds,” Parks and Rec Commissioner Anthony Rendon said. “We need to offer many tropical getaways amid the urban landscape.”

Parks and Recreation opened up three public swimming pools on Wednesday. The city will open up eight more by Sunday. This summer, 61 pools will open across Philadelphia, 11 more than last year. Parks & Rec offers free swimming lessons at all pools. However, this year it's mandatory for all children participating in summer camps to take lessons. There will be an estimated 700 pool staffers on duty across Philly this summer, including 350 lifeguards.

Philadelphia is making lifeguard certification training available to job applicants seven days a week at three different public pools: Abraham Lincoln High School, Friends Select School and St. Joseph's Preparatory School. The city aims to hire 400 lifeguards ahead of the 2023 swimming season to avoid staffing issues reflected by a national lifeguard shortage in recent years.

Need things to do in Philadelphia this weekend? From Friday, Feb. 24 through Sunday, Feb. 26, try street curling at Franklin Park, or visit Penn Museum for an after hours flashlight tour. The German Society of Pennsylvania's 10th annual Bierfest returns to Northern Liberties, a Philly Phreeze fundraiser to benefit lifeguard recruitment hits Fairmount Park and the Philadelphia Museum of Art and National Constitution Center offer free admission for Black History Month.

Philadelphia has struggled to recruit enough lifeguards to staff its 74 public swimming pools in recent years. To fund recruitment bonuses being offered to applicants this year, Parks and Recreation is holding the Philly Phreeze fundraiser at Kelly Pool in Fairmount Park on Saturday, Feb. 25. People are asked to solicit donations for their willingness to dive into the pool's frigid water.

The $1,000 bonus is available for any lifeguard who submits their completed application by Apr. 15 and works throughout the summer season.

The city of Philadelphia has started recruiting lifeguards to work at its pools this summer. Last year, low recruitment meant many pools stayed closed for the season. To get more people on board, they will offer up to $1,000 to early applicants.