Lock Haven Beach “Closed,” But Residents Can Swim There

LOCK HAVEN – It was announced at the May 18 Lock Haven City Council meeting that the city beach off Vesper Street will be closed to swimming this summer, but that does not mean the public can’t swim there.

In response to a request from therecord-online, City Manager Greg Wilson offered a clarification, stating that usually, the city provides life guards at the city beach, but this year the beach will not be guarded or staffed. Signs will be installed shortly directing visitors that the area has “No Lifeguard On Duty, Swim At Your Own Risk.” This is similar, he said, to state DCNR swim areas which are not usually staffed. Residents and guests may still swim at the city beach, but adults should supervise minors that are interested in swimming in the river and only permit them to engage in activity that they, as parents and guardians, are comfortable they can handle and are safe. He said swimmers should be mindful that the Susquehanna is a moving body of water with inherent dangers from currents during high water.

Behind the city decision, he explained, is the liability issue: The restrictions on staffed beaches puts a lot of onus and liability on a teenage lifeguard. Truly, it’s a lot to ask of a lifeguard, and often, beyond what their typical responsibilities are. I by no means disagree with that if you staff a beach or pool, that the addition of COVID-19 precautions should be taken in the interest of public safety. Like with any staffed beach or pool, the city has an exposure to liability if someone were to become infected with SARS-CoV-2 and develop COVID-19 as a result of coming into contact with another swimmer or guest who is infected. For that reason, along with the typical lifeguard duties, the guard would also need to ensure that social distancing is taking place both inside and outside the water. The guard would have to be trained to identify the symptoms of COVID-19 and check each swimmer for those symptoms to ensure that swimmers and guests are not symptomatic, and deny entry to those that are symptomatic. I think it is a lot to ask of a lifeguard, even if the city doubled the number of guards.
At the same time, that liability is limited when the city permits people to swim “at their own risk” with “no lifeguard on duty.”