Fifth & State
Your inside look at everything Garland, unscripted. Join Mayor Dylan Hedrick and City Manager Mike Betz as they dive into the topics shaping our city.
Fifth & State
Dive Into Summer With Garland Aquatics
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In this episode, Mayor Dylan Hedrick and City Manager Mike Betz sit down with Aquatics and Athletics Services Manager Samantha Cairy to get Garland ready for summer. They discuss Opening Day for city pools on May 23, the return of Surf & Swim, and how Garland Aquatics keeps the season fun and safe.
Introduction
SPEAKER_00Welcome to Fifth and State, your inside look at everything Garland unscripted. Join Mayor Dylan Patrick and dive into the topic shaping our city. Let's get started.
SPEAKER_02Hello, Garland, and welcome back to Fifth and State, where we take you behind the scenes of how Garland works. The weather is heating up and summer is coming soon. That means one thing, pool season is right around the corner. And today we are diving into everything you need to know about our aquatics department from opening day for our pools on May 23rd to the exciting reopening of Surf and Swim, plus how to stay safe and how to join our team for the summer. And today we have special guest Sam Carries with us.
SPEAKER_03Thank you for having me.
SPEAKER_02Thank you, Sam. She's our Aquatics and Athletics Service Badger. So we're going to get into everything we need to know about our aquatics department. And as always, I have City Manager Mike Betts with me as well. Good afternoon, everyone.
Meet Garland Aquatics/Athletics Services Manager, Samantha Cairy
SPEAKER_02Well, Sam, tell us first, what is your role in the aquatics department? What do you do there?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, my rule, my role is over safety and everything aquatics. So I oversee all of the concession stand, the admissions, guest service, rentals, lifeguards, swim swim instructors, all of it. So that includes roughly 400 employees and three different locations: Bradfield, Pool, Holford Aquatic Center, and Surf and Swim this year.
SPEAKER_02So what got you into aquatics in the first place into parks and recreation?
SPEAKER_03So I could not find a job in high school, and I absolutely did not want to be a lifeguard. But my boyfriend at the time convinced me to become a lifeguard because I couldn't find anything else. And I to this day am in love with him and the aquatics. So it worked out really well.
SPEAKER_02That's great. Yeah, and that's likewise my first job right in high school. I was a lifeguard for three summers down in Corpus Christi where I grew up. So it's great, you know, and now you're continuing on in this world, it just grew and grew.
SPEAKER_03It is, it's a great job. I absolutely love it.
SPEAKER_02So tell me, what is your favorite memory or summer activity relating to aquatics and to pools?
SPEAKER_03Um, I think my favorite has been this past year, I was able to take my kids to our swim program, and that was so exciting for me to be able to bring my family to the facility and get them into the swim lessons as well.
SPEAKER_02And we'll get into that because we do teach swim lessons
Garland Aquatics Structure
SPEAKER_02in Garland. So tell us what falls under the an aquatics umbrella, what is all involved in that?
SPEAKER_03Okay, so I'm we have swim lessons, we have um our concession stands in all the facilities, our admissions, um we do safety days for the public where we um give CPR um demos and how to properly fit a life jacket to life saving with the lifeguards. We also offer CPR classes for the public.
SPEAKER_02That's great. I know, and we're ramping up. What is that ramping up for summer coming very soon? What does a typical summer look like for your team? Because it must be a busy time for you getting prepared for everything.
SPEAKER_03It is, and everybody thinks we start ramping up now. We actually started in December. It's a crazy time. So um in December, we start hiring our pool managers and our instructors for the lifeguards. We go through all of our training in February, March, and April, and then we get the pool set up, do inspections um for both safety and health, and then we open up in May. Hiring 400 and training 400 staff members quite a bit, and so um it takes quite a bit of time. And we start in December, then we make it through the summer and go through shutting shutting down and winterizing the pools in September, October, and start backup.
SPEAKER_01We train most of our lifeguards ourselves.
SPEAKER_03We train all of our lifeguards in here.
SPEAKER_01Oh, that's fantastic.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, we offer free training.
SPEAKER_02That's great.
How To Become A Garland Aquatics Lifeguard
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_02So that's part of the application process. Then tell us how can one, if someone wants to be a lifeguard on Team Garland, how do they do that?
SPEAKER_03Yes, we would love them to come. Um we hire roughly 220 lifeguards, 80 swim instructors, and about 100 guest service staff. You can apply online at swimgarland.com. There's an employment section. You apply, um, we'll set up an interview, and then you register for the free training. And once you pass the training, then you become a lifeguard with us.
SPEAKER_02So free training, you don't have to have any experience?
SPEAKER_03No experience at all. And then we also have we have shallow and deep water lifeguards, so there's something for everybody.
SPEAKER_02So tell us the difference. What's the difference between shallow and deep water?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, shallow lifeguards are um four feet and under uh for a water depth, and then um over four feet is gonna be your deep water.
SPEAKER_02So a little different skill set for both of those there.
SPEAKER_03Correct, and we will also train that. And so if they start at a shallow water and want to become a deep water, we can help with training.
SPEAKER_01How many how many lifeguards will we have total this summer?
SPEAKER_03Um roughly 220.
SPEAKER_01Wow.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_01That's a big program. It is. And and each of those gets continuing training during the course of the year?
SPEAKER_03Correct. So not only do they go through the original lifeguard class, which is over 30 hours, we also do do weekly training that's roughly an hour and a half to two hours to make sure our skills are up to date.
SPEAKER_01So just just keeping the training component of all of those lifeguards, that's a big obligation for us.
SPEAKER_03It is, and it is so much fun. We try to make it as fun as possible and engaging and bring in the fake blood and all the good fun stuff.
SPEAKER_02Oh well. Now wait a minute, fake blood, not what you talk about. I hope not at a pool.
SPEAKER_03No, first aid, scrape knees and all that good stuff. Yeah, we try to make our training as realistic as possible so our staff knows what could happen, and that includes blood sometimes. And so we bring in fake blood and make it as fun and interactive as possible.
SPEAKER_01So the lifeguards aren't just uh saving people who might be having trouble in the water, but sometimes minor injuries around the pool that'll help take care of those as well.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, the occasional bloody nose or scraped knee, even though they shouldn't be running. Um it happens, and so yep, they respond to all those things.
SPEAKER_02So tell us how much I mean, if I'm looking for my first job out of high school, how much can they earn? What are the what do you pay? What's the pay scale?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, so with our lifeguards, our shallow guards make $13.50 and our deep guards make $15 an hour.
SPEAKER_02So incentive to get a little extra training there.
SPEAKER_03It is, and you can do it mid-season. So if you're working hard on your skills and you get bumped up, then you get that raise right then.
SPEAKER_02Do you find that a lot of lifeguards come back season after season?
SPEAKER_03We do. Um normally we have about a 60 to 75 percent um return rate, which is extremely high for our industry. Um, like I I said earlier, we try to make it as engaging as fun as possible. So we have social events, we have real life training, that's super fun. We um do theme training and and all kinds of stuff for our staff.
SPEAKER_01That's great. How many hours will a typical lifeguard work in a week?
SPEAKER_03That's up to them. So we are extremely flexible with our staff. Um they actually put into um our work system when they can work, and then we match it with our schedules. So it's very flexible. I have some who only work one day a week, and I have some who work up to 40 hours a week. So that's completely up to them.
SPEAKER_02Oh, that's great.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_02So then tell us about all these lifeguards that are
Garland Pools Opening Day on May 23
SPEAKER_02at the pools. Let's talk about opening day on the pools. It's May 23rd. What pools are open? What's happening at our pools?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, so all of our pools are gonna be opening on May 23rd. We're so excited. Um, we have Bradfield Pool and then Holford Aquatic Center and Surf and Swim. All of them will be opening on the same day, and we'll be starting summer
Surf & Swim and Holford Pool
SPEAKER_03off.
SPEAKER_02So everyone's excited about new surf and swim. Talk about that a little bit.
SPEAKER_03We are so excited about the new surf and swim. Um, it's got a lazy river and plenty of shaded seating, a large kids area, an activity pool, three slides, one that drops into a 10-foot drop, and uh a climbing wall, and then our premiere, our Murphy Wave, which is our surf rider.
SPEAKER_01That's an amazing facility. And if anybody hasn't been out there, when you get out there, you'll just be amazed at how much there is to do and how exciting it is to be out there.
SPEAKER_03It is such an exciting time for Garland and all the amenities that we're getting in aquatics.
SPEAKER_02So this Murphy wave rider, it truly is a surfing kind of experience, then.
SPEAKER_03Yes. And so um, there's two different ways you can ride the Murphy wave. You can either boogie board or stand-up surf, and so you can do either one, and it is it's a surf simulator. It's amazing.
SPEAKER_02Stand-up surf? Do you provide surfboards for everyone?
SPEAKER_03We do. Um, we actually provide both the boogie board and the um stand-up board.
SPEAKER_02We'll have to see if I go out and try that out, grow up in Corpus Christie, learn how to surf. I have to try to make sure my skills are still up to par there.
SPEAKER_03I'm pretty sure you'll do great.
SPEAKER_02I hope so. So tell us about surf swim. It's a destination just not for garland, but we're trying to bring people from outside all to the area to this facility, right?
SPEAKER_03Right. And so um the Murphy Ways wave is a huge draw. It's really exciting, and not many um places in the area have a surf simulator, so that is so exciting for us. Also, just the garland service with a smile, um, that really sets us apart from other facilities. We really care about the people who are walking into our facility, about their safety, and they're enjoying their day. And so um between our amen awesome amenities to um our garland service.
SPEAKER_02There's not only surf and swim, but we also have Holford Pool. It's a big aquatic facility opened up last swim season. Tell us what's going on there this year.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, great things happening at Holford. Um, that facility has two slides, lap lanes, an open area, a walking channel for water walking in the water, and a small kids area. Um, something that's really exciting at both Holford and Surf and Swim is our indoor party room. It accommodates up to 20 people. Um, so you can have that nice air-conditioned um facility for your party.
SPEAKER_02I know my daughter, we've rented out both Holford and Bradfield for her birthday parties of time to time, so we may have to jump over to Surf and Swim and get the trifecta in there for renting out all three facilities at one point.
SPEAKER_03Absolutely love it. The party room is beautiful, the whole f facility is beautiful. Your family will love it.
SPEAKER_01And one of the exciting things this year is at uh Holford is we've got a season pass program going on.
SPEAKER_03We do, and we're so excited to roll that out. Um, the season pass are for um Garland citizens. We are offering two season passes this year, a weekday pass and a season pass. Your weekday pass is gonna be Monday through Friday, and your season pass is gonna be all season long. The pricing structure for that is gonna be 12 and under for that weekday pass is thirty-five dollars, and then your season pass for twelve and under is fifty dollars. So it's a great deal for the whole family. And then 13 and up uh for the weekday pass, you're looking at $40, and for the season pass, $55. So hoping the whole family comes.
SPEAKER_01And how does how does somebody actually get a season pass if they want to buy one at that price?
SPEAKER_03Yes, we're starting uh on May 1st. You can buy them at Wholeford Recreation Center. So you just go into the center, tell them you're looking to buy a Wholeford season pass for the pool, and they'll get you set up.
SPEAKER_02And that's for the whole summer. They can come and swim as many times they want, either during the weekday or for the full season.
SPEAKER_03Correct. The whole season, it's gonna be amazing.
SPEAKER_02That's a great deal. Yes.
SPEAKER_03It is.
SPEAKER_02I know some people have already asked, well, are you doing that at Wholeford? Are you gonna do that at Surf and Swim?
SPEAKER_03We do have intentions um to do that at Surf and Swim eventually. What we do want to see is um what the actual surf and swim operation is gonna look like. What we don't want to do is sell a bunch of passes and then hit capacity and not be able to let them in. And so we want to uh understand the full operations of surf and swim before we offer a season pass so it's not a disappointment to our citizens.
SPEAKER_02So give it a season like we did with Holford, let it get all the kinks out, and then we'll see next next year.
SPEAKER_03Exactly.
SPEAKER_01And figure out how many season passes you could sell so you're not running out of room to and have to turn people away.
SPEAKER_03Exactly.
SPEAKER_02So that is a thing. There is something that uh we learned about in council in our work session. It's a bather load. You can only emit so many people, there's only so much capacity at our swimming pools.
SPEAKER_03Correct. Um pools have little personalities too, and so um learning their chemicals and all of that that has to do with our bather load, and so we're learning our pool personalities, and we'll have a better idea for that going into next season.
SPEAKER_02Good be looking forward to that next year.
Swim Lessons
SPEAKER_02So this is an important thing. I've all my kids, I've enrolled them in swim lessons before. I used to teach swim lessons when I was a lifeguard. Tell us about does Garland offer swim lessons for its residents?
SPEAKER_03We do, we absolutely love our swim program. Um, and what's really cool is our swim supervisor has been with us for over 30 years, and so she has such a passion for the program. Um, we offer swim lessons for nine months all the way to 99 years, and if you're older, you can join too. Um and so it is eight lessons for $65, which is a killer deal, and we offer them at all three facilities.
SPEAKER_01What age do people start taking lessons at?
SPEAKER_03Um, nine months, and then we go all the way to adults, and we also have adaptive swim lessons.
SPEAKER_01So we teach infants how to swim?
SPEAKER_03We teach them water skills. And so it's at the nine months, it's water comfort, making sure they're comfortable in the water, they can put their head under the water, um, getting ready to learn to swim as they get older.
SPEAKER_01And how old will they be when they actually start to learn to swim?
SPEAKER_03It really depends on the child. Each child grows differently, and that's actually how our program is set up. They can progress through our levels as they're taking lessons. So it really depends on the child. We like individualizing our lessons.
SPEAKER_02That's great. So we'll have them all doing the butterfly by the time they're out of our swim lessons then.
SPEAKER_03Wouldn't that be impressive?
SPEAKER_02That'd be great. I know uh I remember me teaching uh it had to be an infant that was there right there, and I think their parents are allowed to come in the water as well when they're that yeah, age, but just get them to put their head underwater, blow bubbles, kick around a little bit, feel comfortable, like you said.
SPEAKER_03Yes, it's just all about water comfort at that age, making sure they're not screaming on the side of the pool and afraid of the water, getting them comfortable. We have all kinds of toys and playthings to in the water, and we teach the parent how to help with that in
Other Employment Opportunities In Garland Aquatics
SPEAKER_03the water at nine months.
SPEAKER_02We talked about hiring lifeguards, we've talked about swimming lessons. What other opportunities are there available in our aquatics department for someone who may not necessarily want to be a lifeguard?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, so we have swim instructors which um teach our swim lessons, and we again do free training for all of that as well, which is so exciting. Um and it's a certification. We use the Jeff Ellison Associates Swim Program. Um, and then we also have guest service associates, and they run the top of our slides, they run our cash registers, our concessions, and then also maintain the facility um cleanliness.
SPEAKER_02Imagine sell a lot of hot dogs and that sort of thing at Wholeford when I was there.
SPEAKER_03That's we do, and this year they're we're doing um the same at Surf and Swim. And you know what our biggest seller at Wholeford was? Uncrustables.
SPEAKER_02Uncrustables.
SPEAKER_03I know. Um but what I'm excited about surf and swim is bringing back the funnel cake fries because we used to have those at Surf and they are amazing.
SPEAKER_02Well, that's I'm gonna have to definitely try those when I'm out there. That sounds great. For
Resident Q&A
SPEAKER_02sure. I'm getting hungry. Well, do you have a moment? We got a few resident questions here, so uh we'll ask a few of those. First one is
When Does Swim Lesson Registration Open?
SPEAKER_02when does registration for swimming lessons start?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, so um our registration begins one week before the actual session. Um that allows us to properly staff and gives parents time to plan. Um registration for the first session. First session starts on June 1st and registration begins on May 25th. Um I could bore you with the rest of the dates, um, but they can go to swimgarland.com to get those.
SPEAKER_02Okay, swimgarland.com will have all the information there there.
SPEAKER_03Click on swim lessons and it will give you the locations, the times, um, and all the registration date. But the first registration date they need to know is May 25th, and that session starts on June 1st.
SPEAKER_02Another question we have here
Senior Swim Lessons/Aerobics?
SPEAKER_02anything for senior swimmers? My mother-in-law, she teaches water aerobics, she does uh at the YMCA where she lives. Do we have anything for our older swimmers?
SPEAKER_03Yes, we do actually for all adult swimmers. So what we're bringing back this year is adult swim. It's gonna be Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at Holford Pool from 6 30 to 8, and that's $2. And there's multiple options during that time frame. Um, there is water walking around the channel, and then there are lap lanes to swim laps, and then we're also going to have the activity area open um for both independent exercise, and we are having a hard time finding a um water aerobic instructor. How far does your mother-in-law live?
SPEAKER_02She's down in Waco, but it's quite a commute.
SPEAKER_03A little bit of a commute, all right. And so um we are look currently trying to find a water aerobic instructor, and if we find that, then that will be offered at the same time. But if not, that whole area will be available and we'll have water weights and all kinds of stuff for independent exercise.
SPEAKER_02That's great. Maybe I can convince her to come up here. You know, it'd be great to have her close by help with the babysitting as well.
SPEAKER_03Oh, that'd be wonderful.
Are Pools Available For Private Bookings?
SPEAKER_02We talked about season passes already. Uh pools available for private bookings. Can you rent out the whole pool if you wanted to?
SPEAKER_03You can. All three pools are offered for rentals on Saturdays and Sundays. Um, Holford and Bradfield are from 6:30, 8:30, and you can um add one additional hour. Surf and swim is from seven to nine, and again, you can add an additional hour. You get the whole facility, and lifeguards are included.
SPEAKER_02So after the pool closes in the afternoon or evening, you can rent the whole thing for yourself if you want to throw a huge party.
SPEAKER_03Right, or just for yourself.
SPEAKER_02If you had the whole whole place myself, I don't know what I would do. Just be doing laps in the in the uh in the lazy river.
SPEAKER_03But just up and down that slide.
SPEAKER_02Right, well, yes, exactly.
Are There Accessibility Features At City Pools?
SPEAKER_02What are some accessibility features for people who may uh you know have some movement issues or challenges getting into our pool? How do we accommodate those residents?
SPEAKER_03Um so a couple different ways. One, we offer adaptive swim lessons, which is fantastic for all ages. And so, um, but to get in and out of the pool, we have ADA lifts at each one of our facilities that help that person get into the pool and that they can walk up to and use on their own, or you can ask for assistance. Um, also, Surf and Swim and Holford have um zero entry areas where um wheelchairs can go into the pool if they have a water wheelchair. And then we also offer handlebars and stairs to get into the pool.
SPEAKER_02Sam,
Can Guests Bring Outside Food To City Pools?
SPEAKER_02coming to one of our pools for the first time. Can I bring in an ice chest? Can I bring in drinks? Can I bring in my own food? What does that look like about this?
SPEAKER_03Yes, you can definitely bring your own food. Um, we do have a $5 cooler fee. Um, the only thing that we ask is no glass or alcohol, and then no commercial fruit, so no pizza boxes or anything of that nature. You can do sandwiches or pasta salad or anything like that, canned drinks in your cooler, and you can bring it in for $5.
Can Guests Bring Toys/Floaties To City Pools?
SPEAKER_02What about toys? Can I bring my own sinkie toys? Can I bring pool noodles, those kind of things? What am I allowed to bring in?
SPEAKER_03So the only flotation devices that are allowed are Coast Guard approved. Um, and that's gonna say that on the life jacket. And we also offer them for free so you don't even have to bring them. Um, we offer free life jackets for um all different sizes. And you can just ask for assistance with those and we'll get you fitted correctly. Um we don't allow noodles or anything inflatable. You can bring dive toys, um, and you and we do ask no squirt guns.
SPEAKER_01What's a dive toy?
SPEAKER_03Oh, it's a little weighted toy that goes to the bottom of the pool so kids or adults can go down and get it and bring it back up. My kids love them. We have these cute little dinosaur ones and they're eggs, and then you open the egg and you go to pick the dinosaur.
SPEAKER_02No pole noodles, because I know my kids they'd bring those and they start hitting each other with them. So they turn into lightsabers. I thought that's the word the what they were for.
SPEAKER_03See, I always thought that too until I started teaching swim lessons and got reprimanded.
How To Check Pool Capacity Before Heading Out
SPEAKER_02One thing we talked about at our work sessions is that we have a capacity at our pools. Maybe not everyone can get in at the same time. So, what do you recommend? What's the best time to come visit our pools?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, we're really excited about everybody coming to the facility, and we do expect to meet capacity. And so they can check our website, swimgarland.com, click on the pool that they're wanting to go to, and that will tell you whether or not we're at capacity yet. Um, you can also call the pool, which is on the website.
SPEAKER_01So you can go right on the website and see if there's still room at the pool for you.
SPEAKER_03Correct. It will be um in red that we are at capacity at that time if we are.
SPEAKER_01That's great.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_01And then you can also, while you're on the website, find another pool to go to.
SPEAKER_03Correct.
SPEAKER_01That's not at capacity.
SPEAKER_03Exactly. And we're expecting to be at capacity at Surf and Swim quite a bit. We were before we remodeled, but with this remodel, we're really expecting
City Splash Pads
SPEAKER_03it.
SPEAKER_02So if our residents find the pools closed or at capacity, they can still enjoy some of our other features around town. We have splash pads around town too, don't we?
SPEAKER_03Yes, there are lots of options. You can check our website to see if our pools are at capacity at swimgarland.com, but you can also click on splash pads to see um our different locations. So we have Embry, we have Lawnwin and Watson, and then we also have the water feature downtown. There are lots of options to cool off in Garland this season.
SPEAKER_02My son always seems to find the water feature in the downtown square whenever there's a concert there. He's always soaking wet by the time we go home.
SPEAKER_03But so much fun.
SPEAKER_02Yes.
Samantha's Favorite Thing About Garland Aquatics
SPEAKER_02So I always love to ask our guests what is an interesting story or something. I know you've been doing this for many years, so I'm sure you have some stories to tell about your time around pools.
SPEAKER_03Yes, uh, really my favorite is just all of the families that come back every season. Um, and they just get so excited about being in Garland and the different facilities. And so we have our regulars that come weekly and they visit the lifeguards and say hi, and um, we just absolutely love that.
Wrap Up
SPEAKER_02Sam, we thank you for being here and we thank your entire aquatics team for just helping make the summers in Garland as fun and as safe as possible around our pools. And remember that Garland Aquatics offers something for everyone: fun, safety, and even a job opportunity. You can get paid to come to our pools all summer long. So go to swimgarland.com and you can find the schedules for swimming lessons, the pool schedules, more details about surf and swim, and even job applications. And new episodes of Fifth and State come out every first Monday of the month. You can subscribe on iTunes or Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. And I appreciate everyone for listening. Good night, Garland.