swim at your own risk

The Municipality of Anchorage's Parks and Recreation Department will not staff lifeguards at Goose Lake or Jewel Lake this summer, the third consecutive summer without coverage at either site, due to an ongoing lifeguard shortage. The city says the gap could persist for the foreseeable future.

The decision came down to a staffing tradeoff. Anchorage had enough lifeguard staff to cover either the two lakes or the indoor pools at Dimond High School and West High School, but not both. City officials chose to keep the indoor pools running.

That means anyone swimming at Goose Lake or Jewel Lake this summer is doing so without a lifeguard on duty. Parks and Rec officials note that children who swim confidently in a pool still need close supervision in open water, since lakes are colder, deeper and less predictable than pools.

Warm weather has already brought families out to both lakes, with children swimming despite the lack of supervision. Officials are urging parents and caregivers to keep young kids within arm's reach and to actively watch the water rather than assume someone else is on duty.