Open Water Swimmers Compete at PBC Parks Ocean Rescue’s Annual Summer Ocean Mile Swim

On June 25, PBC Parks Ocean Rescue hosted its 12^th annual Summer Mile Swim at R.G. Kreusler Park, located at 2882 S Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach.

PBC Ocean Rescue Scores Historic First Place Win at USLA Regionals

The 2018 United States Lifesaving Association Southeast Regional Championships were held at Flagler Beach on July 26th and 27th. This competition was attended by 22 beach patrols from the Southeast Region with some of the best open water athletes in the nation.

Palm Beach County Ocean Rescue was supported by 16 competitors who volunteered their time and resources to represent the County and included: Lieutenant Chase Robertson, Kim Robertson, Jessica Ventura, Lead Guard Tiffany Lacasse-Johnson, Lieutenant Phil Harris, Chase Harris, Matt Lynskey, Tracey Matuszko, Lieutenant Dan Barnickel, Russ Gehweiler, Jessie Stevens, Training Officer Steve Kaes, Kira Shoemaker, Mitchell Irwin, Hanna Forrest and Lex May.

This first place win was an important victory for the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department’s Ocean Rescue team (PBCOR). PBCOR is one of the largest beach patrols in the Southeast Region and strives to attract and retain full-time lifeguards of the highest caliber. Competing and placing first in a USLA Regional Competition helps attract top guards from around the nation to make their careers at Palm Beach County.

USLA Competitions are one of the only organized sports that directly promotes life saving. In winning the first place Southeast Regional title, PBCOR competitors did a fantastic job promoting and representing their public safety agency. In addition to their required training on duty, many of the guards trained hard off duty to win this event.

Chase Robertson, Matt Lynskey

The competition consists of 10 individual events that include: surf swim, paddleboard, surf ski, singles surf boat, beach flags, iron guard, ironman/woman, American ironman/woman, run swim run, and 2K beach. There are six team events: doubles surf boat and paddleboard rescueand 4X100 run relay, line pull rescue, surf rescue, and taplin relay.

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Highlights:

• Lieutenant Chase Robertson was the highest overall point scorer for Palm Beach County and the second highest male point scorer for the entire competition with a total of 89.5 points. He competed and placed in 12 events and won first place in 9 events.
• Jessica Ventura was the highest overall female point scorer for Palm Beach County with a total of 64 points and competed in a total of 18 events placing first in age group surf swim, board race, surf ski, international iron woman, run swim paddle and run swim run.
• Tiffany Lacasse-Johnson was the second highest overall female point scorer for Palm Beach County with a total point score of 60.7 from a total of 20 events.
• Senior Guard Lieutenant Phil Harris returned this year to compete in seven events. Highlights were winning first place in the age group run-swim-run, and 2nd place in surf swim, board race, 2k beach run, and beach flags. His daughter, Chase Harris, who swam for FIU and recently graduated proudly competed alongside her dad finishing 6th in the highly competitive open women’s swim.
• Senior Guard and Training Officer Steve Kaes was there to compete and his guidance and help were invaluable to all the competitors before, during and after the event. For years he captained the Competition Team and our success this year was accomplished on the foundation Steve Kaes and other senior guards have built over the years.

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Remember to swim near a lifeguard when you visit the beach. For more information, visit USLA.org.

Destination Recreation 6: Boating

Welcome to the sixth episode of Destination Recreation! We take you through different Palm Beach County parks and facilities in each episode – giving you a unique peek at what you can experience at our more than 80 locations throughout the County.

On this episode, we tell you all about one of the most popular amenities in Palm Beach County — boating! Learn about where to go, what activities you can enjoy, and what you need to do if you’re parking your boat trailer at a PBC Park. Let’s head out on the water!

Don’t miss an episode – follow pbcParks on WordPress or subscribe to our YouTube channel to see each episode of Destination Recreation, which is released monthly.

We make the quality of life for Palm Beach County residents and visitors better by providing diverse, safe and affordable recreation services, welcoming parks, and enriching social and cultural experiences. We achieve this by promoting wellness, fostering environmental stewardship, contributing economic value, and by improving our community every day for this and future generations.

For more opportunities for healthy, happy living, visit pbcParks.com.

Get your feet wet at #pbcParks!

 

Palm Beach County is a popular location for kids and families who want to ‘get their feet wet’ by splashing in and around the water! The weather is perfect year-round for a day at the beach, or a dip in the pool. The Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department offers plenty of opportunities for people of all ages to be active in the water.

Pools & Aquatic Centers

Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation operates six pools and aquatic centers throughout the county. Each pool offers activities and classes like water aerobics, adult lap and open swim time. Be sure to check with each facility for specific times, dates and facility hours.

1. Aqua Crest Pool in Delray Beach is heated in the winter for year-round enjoyment. It features a 50-meter pool with a diving well and children’s play pool. Various swim teams practice at Aqua Crest, including the Palm Beach Masters, East Coast Aquatic Club Swim Team, and the Coralytes Synchronized Swim Team.

2. Gleneagles Country Club Aquatic Center is located at the CMAA Therapeutic Recreation Complex in John Prince Park, Lake Worth. It runs from April through September. Programs and activities available at Gleneagles include adaptive swim lessons, aqua motion, family and lap swim, scuba instruction and more.

3. Lake Lytal Family Aquatic Center also operates during the winter months, in West Palm Beach. The Palm Beach Masters and Lake Lytal Lightning Swim Teams practice at this facility, and it also offers Water Walking.

4. North County Aquatic Complex is located in Jupiter and is open year-round, as it offers a heated pool. It also features a 50-meter pool and a children’s wading pool, as well as water aerobics classes. The Jupiter Dragons, Palm Beach Masters and the Jupiter Dive Club, a competitive spring board diving team, practice at North County
   Aquatic Complex.

5. Pioneer Park Aquatic Center: Belle Glade’s Pioneer Park Aquatic Center is open from May to September, and features a 25 yard pool with tipping water buckets for the kids and water slides.

6. Santaluces Aquatic Complex is located in Lantana, is open from May to September. A 25-meter pool, diving boards, and a children’s wading pool are located at the facility.

Waterparks

Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation operates two waterparks, both of which close for the Winter season. Each waterpark offers an affordable opportunity to get the kids outside and into the water. Check out what you can enjoy at these waterparks which open in March for Spring Break!

1. Calypso Bay Waterpark is in Royal Palm Beach inside Seminole Palms Park. This waterpark also offers a nearly 900-foot river ride, lily pad walk, four-story high water slides, water playground, as well as a lap pool with diving boards and more.

2. Coconut Cove Waterpark is located inside Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park in Boca Raton. The waterpark features an 897-foot river ride, lily pad walk, two water slides, a children’s water playground pool, and more.

Beaches

Beaches are the number one reason people visit Palm beach County – and Palm Beach County operates 16 beach parks from Tequesta to Boca Raton. Palm Beach County’s South Florida location means any day can be the perfect beach day – for free! Kids and families can spend time basking in the sun (with adequate sun protection), building sand castles, playing catch on the beach, or swimming in the ocean.

Palm Beach County’s Ocean Rescue lifeguards protect swimmers at fourteen oceanfront and inlet parks to ensure beachgoer safety. For an accessible beach experience, beach wheelchairs are available at several parks.

For helpful beach safety information, watch this video.

Splash parks

Splashparks are a great, free way for kids to cool off in the water! Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation operates three brightly colored, interactive splash parks for kids to run and jump in.

The splashparks are located inside John Prince Park in Lake Worth, Westgate Park & Recreation Center in West Palm Beach, and Glades Pioneer Park in Belle Glade. The splashparks in Glades Pioneer Park and Westgate Park are open seasonally; however the John Prince Park location is open year-round!

All three of the splashparks offer interactive features for kids, including rotating spray cannons, ground-level water jets, and animals like frogs and whales. Shade sails are provided at splashpark locations for sun protection. Kids will have a blast splashing around in these water playgrounds, while soaking their friends!

Splashparks are free to use, however for groups of ten or more, weekday reservations are required at Westgate and John Prince Park and a nominal fee must be paid. Please contact each park or facility for more information on reserving the splashpark for a group of ten or more.

Swimming lessons

For parents and kids living in Palm Beach County, it’s a necessary skill to know how to swim, or, know the basics of water survival. That’s why Palm Beach County pools and aquatic facilities offer swim lessons for people of all ages.

For specific schedules, rates and class information please check with the facility.

For Palm Beach County water-related activities, visit pbcsplash.com.

Visit pbcparks.com for information on all Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation facilities.