NEW ORLEANS — The annual Splash Day was held Wednesday, kicking off the start of summer and the opening of NORD public pools. Every year the Mayor jumps in the pool to signify the beginning of swim season, and Mayor Cantrell did just that.
If the heat wasn't enough to remind you, this might, New Orleans Recreation Development Commission pools are now open. Mayor Latoya Cantrell said, "We're so focused on putting more youth to work than we had more youth than ever in our history employed again it paved the way for a safe summer but also as a safer city as we're celebrating."
Mayor Latoya Cantrell says working as a lifeguard is a great way for kids to keep occupied when school is out. She said, "A great opportunity for our young people to be employed, make a greater I would say higher than a living wage, a plan for their future, save a little money, and have a good time."
Kristina Norwood says opening the pools this year brings back the meaning of community. She said it allows kids to work as lifeguards and enables them, "To help somebody, to give them a skill that they can use beyond the summer."
She went on to say, "Just giving them something to look forward to in the summer and giving them hope to say hey, our communities are re-building we are getting to a space where we are getting back to meaning what it means to be from New Orleans."
The Mayor did acknowledge the hiccups the city had paying kids last summer, but says that's been addressed. The Mayor said, "We put systems in place to ensure that all of our agencies and partners... We have a data management system that talks – meaning that works – together so we can track."
Larry Barabino, Jr. with NORD says the pool at the St. Bernard Recreation Center hasn't been open since 2019, a place he used to swim. He said, "I was one of the first participants, to participate in the program we were lined up outside the gate."
He says the city has 92 certified lifeguards this season.
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