The seasonal help of more than 30 lifeguards have retired their life preservers and whistles as another pool season closed on August 12 at the Great Bend Wetlands Aquatic Park. From Memorial Day weekend to the middle of August, pool goers came and go to the facility at Brit Spaugh Park.

Megan Hammeke, Aquatics Director for the Great Bend Recreation Commission, says it was a rather smooth summer.

Megan Hammeke Audio

Hammeke added the lifeguards had to train under a few new guidelines following the death of a boy at the Schlitterbahn waterpark in Kansas City two years ago. Lifeguards wore fanny packs that contained first aid materials including CPR masks.

The pool offseason will include annual maintenance and touchup.

Megan Hammeke Audio

Although the pool closed August 12, the staff held the annual Bark in the Park event last weekend. The staff turned down the chlorine levels in the pool so dogs could enjoy the water.