Haverhill’s Plug Pond Now Staffed with 7 Lifeguards as Peak Swimming Season Begins

Lifeguards are back at Plug Pond this summer.

The Haverhill Recreation Department revived its guard program after it was abandoned for lack of staff following the COVID-19 pandemic. To make sure the city has enough certified lifeguards to call on, the Recreation Department ran two well-attended lifeguard certification training programs in the last year—one in December and one in May. The training was offered by Wicked Safety Training.

Recreation Director Benjamin Delaware, a recent guest on WHAV’s “Win For Breakfast” program, said, “People don’t realize that lifeguard training requires 35 hours of classroom study and several in-water tests.”

The move comes after the city suffered three drownings last year, one at Plug Pond, though in a deep area outside the roped swimming area. Two guards will be on duty at all times.

Delaware said the city also hired security guards and adult site directors to help with management and crowd control. He noted some of his staff are fluent in Spanish as well as English. He added, “In the past we have relied on college students as park ambassadors. We really felt we needed a more mature adult staff.”

Towards that end the city hired security guards, many of whom work during the school year for the Haverhill Public Schools. The site managers will deal with administrative tasks such a checking in those with day passes, Delaware said.

“I am very excited about the staff I have this year. We have definitely a more diverse staff than we have had in many years both in terms of background and skills. It is a great group. So, we’ll have a lot of fun and they always usually enjoy working there,” Delaware said.

Delaware noted the day pass system for vehicles has changed this year. Residents can still order a day pass on the day they plan to visit during the week up until 5:30 p.m. However, weekend and holiday passes must be purchased at least a day in advanced so that the staff has a better idea of attendance. Passes are $10 for residents and $20 for non-residents and can be ordered at HaverhillRec.com.

“Weekends and holidays we are asking people to register days prior so we have an idea of head count before the day starts,” Delaware said.

Walk-ins are still free. Prior registration is not required during the week but is necessary for the weekends. Register at HaverhillRec.com.

Senior lifetime passes for those 62 and over are $5 for residents and $10 for non-residents.

Plug Pond, also called Lake Saltonstall, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., off Sanders Road, near Mill Street. The swimming area can accommodate 250 people.

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