Juneau Parks and Recreation adds staff to meet community demands for swim lessons and rentals

The Assembly Finance Committee meeting on April 6, 2025, focused on proposed staffing increments within the Parks and Recreation Department of Juneau City and Borough. Key discussions highlighted the need for additional personnel to meet growing community demands for recreational services.

The committee reviewed several position increments, including a 0.5 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) recreation aid, a 0.48 FTE aquatic instructor, a 0.45 FTE lifeguard, and a 0.35 FTE recreation maintenance worker. The recreation aid position is aimed at facilitating gym rentals at Floyd Dryden and Marie Drake schools, making these spaces more accessible to the community.

The aquatic instructor and lifeguard roles are directly tied to an increased demand for swim lessons, necessitating more staff to ensure safety and quality instruction. Additionally, the recreation maintenance worker position, which was previously included in last year's budget but inadvertently removed, is now reinstated. This role is crucial for supporting summer operations at the Treadwell Ice Rink, allowing for expanded programming that was not available in previous years.

Overall, these staffing adjustments reflect the city's commitment to enhancing recreational opportunities for residents and addressing the growing interest in community programs. The committee's discussions underscore the importance of adequate staffing to support these initiatives.