Lifeguards Back to Save Lives at Sparkle Lake

Following a discussion for a couple of months at Sparkle Lake, Yorktown town board members unanimously voted earlier this week to provide lifeguards for the summer.

The lifeguard positions were  from the 2012 budget, for an annual savings of $18,000. 

When the issue came up this year before town board members, councilman Dave Paganelli said in early April the town's Recreation Commission had recommended against having the lifeguards and that the Parks and Recreation Department had already scheduled programs at the service building.

Ultimately, it was the town board's decision whether to bring back the lifeguards.

Yorktown supervisor Michael Grace said during the day it's mostly families – moms and their children – who visit the lake and could use a "second pair of eyes" by having the lifeguards there.

"To me it's one of the services the town should provide," he said. "We've had a lot of people who really enjoy it."

Paganelli said he saw the issue was one of public safety, even though he knows people do swim at Sparkle Lake when lifeguards are not on duty.

Although the lifeguards were not budgeted in this year's town budget, Grace said the town can afford them and estimates the cost to be between $10,000 and $15,000 for the summer. 

In these economic times, Grace said, he acknowledged Yorktown families can't afford to spend money to go on vacation, so many would be staying local. 

"It gives them a piece of mind if they can't afford to go on vacation," he said of Sparkle Lake and added that by bringing back the lifeguards the town is employing local kids. "It's a win-win."

Grace projects the lifeguard to be in place sometime in mid June this year after staffing is finalized.

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