No lifeguards expected on Milwaukee County beaches this summer

MILWAUKEE COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- As summer approaches, safety is top of mind for some beach folks. Milwaukee County has felt the brunt of the lifeguard shortage. Milwaukee County Parks officials said folks should not expect lifeguards at the beach this year.

On Monday, Bradford Beach was buzzing with families soaking up the rays and getting their toes wet, including Trevor Kubiak and his family. And to his surprise, with the absence of lifeguards.

"It makes me concerned for other parents here that might have children or just anyone that's swimming you know in the lake," said Kubiak.

Milwaukee County Lake Michigan beaches have been guard-less since 2019, said Andrea Wallace of the Milwaukee County Parks Department.

"Post pandemic, I mean we really have to build our lifeguard core in order to get people who can do that," said Wallace.

She said they've been focused on their recruitment for aquatic centers saying they’ve seen a 20% increase in lifeguard hires this year for public pools.

Wallace said they are currently not bringing on beach lifeguards but are offering the communities "beach ambassadors."

"It's a really important program with several different agencies that employs people to walk around the beaches, talk about how to swim safely in open water," said Wallace.

That doesn’t sit right with some parents like Bethany Lampert who said the absence of lifeguards make her very concerned for the safety of her children and others.

"It gets really busy, it's busy here all the time especially in summer. And to know that there's not going to be extra patrol watching, that makes me very nervous," said Lampert.

Wallace said the beach ambassadors will be located at Bradford beach from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday to Sunday this summer for the second time in a row.