The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced Friday that the swimming pool at French Creek State Park will be closed for the 2022 summer season.
“Unfortunately, we will not have the necessary amount of lifeguards and support staff to open the pool at the park in 2022,” said French Creek State Park Complex Manager James Wassell.
“We are working to find solutions so that park visitors can enjoy swimming at the park in the future. All other park facilities and recreation opportunities will be open for the season and we expect a great year at French Creek.”
DCNR says the vendor that operates the pool is experiencing a shortage of lifeguards and other support staff, which is an issue that public aquatic centers are facing across Pennsylvania.
DCNR is encouraging park visitors to enjoy the many other outdoor recreation opportunities the park offers including hiking, camping, disc golf, wildlife watching and boating.
French Creek State Park is an oasis for people and wildlife that straddles the Schuylkill Highlands. The 7,730-acre park is the largest block of contiguous forest between Washington D.C. and New York City. The forests, lakes, wetlands, and fields are a destination for the people of southeast Pennsylvania to hike, fish, camp, and bike.
Those looking to swim at parks near French Creek have other options, including Marsh Creek, Neshaminy and Nockamixon state parks. Visitors should check with those parks for hours of operation this season.
To help address the lifeguard shortage, DCNR is providing certification training at no cost for new lifeguards to help with recruitment to prevent future closures.
