Poughkeepsie’s two city pools have long served as a refuge from the summer heat for thousands of city residents, but a lifeguard shortage threatens the summer fun.

It’s nearly summertime, and for many Poughkeepsie children and families, that means it’s almost pool time.

Shakila Deslandes takes her daughter, Giannarene, to Pulaski Pool every summer.

"It’s local, it’s pretty clean. It’s a nice pool," Deslandes said.

It’s right up the street from their house. For them and many Poughkeepsie families, the pools are an easy and inexpensive way to cool off and have fun during the summer.

"Yes, there’s really not many other pools," said Deslandes, of Poughkeepsie. "There’s just Spratt and Pulaski, and without a pool, I don't know what much more we could do. There’s not much to do as it is."

Pulaski Park Pool and Spratt Park Pool are the city's only public pools, but in order to open, you need staff to run them. Like many cities across the country, Poughkeepsie is facing a lifeguard shortage.

"It’s going on everywhere," Mayor Rob Rolison said. "A lot of our lifeguards age out. Then you’re also competing with the private pools, who may pay more."

To recruit more lifeguards and other pool staff, the city is raising lifeguard pay from $16 to $22 an hour, offering a $500 sign-up bonus and an additional $500 if you complete the season or recruit another qualified lifeguard.

"We’re gonna do every single thing that we can do to get these pools up and running and staffed," Rolison said.

So far, the incentives are working. They’ve had an increase in interest in the last few days. Rolison said he’s confident they’ll hire enough people to keep both pools open this summer.

"These are our summer destination spots for so many people who may not have the ability financially, scheduling wise, to go to some other place," he said. "It’s just fun all the time for everybody." Giannarene agrees. "Love it, love it. I love swimming."