The Johnnie Walker and Savannah beaches in Lewes, Delaware, will not be staffed with lifeguards this summer.
Many Delaware resort towns have increased pay or benefits to attract more summer employees. Lewes recently increased lifeguard pay from $13.49 per hour to $16 per hour.
City Manager Ann Marie Townshend said the city was not in a position to safely guard the two municipal beaches, The News Journal reported. The city didn’t want to inadequately staff the beaches and create a “false sense of security,” she said.
The city intends to return to a full lifeguarding staff in the future, Townshend said. Meanwhile, people should continue following beach rules and be careful while swimming and enjoying the beach, she said.
More information on the beaches in Lewes can be found here.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
