The Dealtry Pool on Pleasant Street in Watertown will be opening for the season on June 21. More information about pool hours, the learn to swim program and lifeguard openings can be seen below.
Pool Opening
The City of Watertown sent out social media posts saying that, according to the Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) website, the Dealtry Memorial Swimming Pool in Watertown will be open from Saturday, June 21, 2025 – Sunday, August 17, 2025, between 11:15 a.m. – 6:45 p.m.
If you have questions about the pool, please contact the DCR Community Relations team at mass.parks@mass.gov or 617-626-4973.
Learn to Swim, Life Guard Openings
The DCR sent out the following information:
As part of the agency’s ongoing work to promote water safety at state beaches and pools, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation (DCR) is once again offering free swim lessons to children at DCR pools across the state through its Learn to Swim program. Registration for this year’s Learn to Swim program, which will be offered at 19 agency-managed pools across Massachusetts, will open at 8 a.m. on Monday, June 16. Ahead of Father’s Day weekend, DCR is also expanding lifeguard services to seven days a week at 30 beaches and is still accepting applications for certified lifeguards interested at working at DCR beaches and pools.
“As summer temperatures get hotter, we are committed to ensuring that every Massachusetts resident has access to a beach or pool and to be able to learn the skills they need to have a safe and fun experience,” said DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo. “Providing free swim lessons through the Learn to Swim program, as well as ensuring we have a full contingent of qualified lifeguards, is critical to promoting water safety throughout the summer season.”
The Learn to Swim program provides free 30-minute group swim lessons to children ages four through 12. This year, the program will take place at 19 DCR pools across the state during three sessions. Each session consists of eight lessons on weekday mornings over a two-week period. DCR’s annual Learn to Swim classes are designed for beginner-level swimmers, based on the American Red Cross curriculum, with a focus on water safety and learning basic swimming skills. Registration will close once classes at each facility are full. Registration is required and is on a first-come, first-serve basis.
This year’s program will be held at DCR pools in Agawam, Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Chicopee, Clinton, Fall River, Fitchburg, Hyde Park, Lawrence, Lowell, Malden, Melrose, Milford, Roxbury, Springfield, Watertown, and Worcester. For a complete list of pools offering lessons or to register for lessons please visit the Learn to Swim website.
The schedule for this year’s Learn to Swim program is:
Session 1: June 30, 2025 – July 11, 2025 (excluding July 4) (registration opens on Monday, June 16, 2025, at 8 a.m.)
Session 2: July 14, 2025 – July 25, 2025 (registration opens on Monday, June 30, 2025, at 8 a.m.)
Session 3: July 28 – August 8 (subject to instructor availability) (registration opens on Monday, July 14, 2025, at 8 a.m.)
Additionally, the Lowell Police Department, in partnership with DCR, the Sean A. Collier Memorial Foundation, and the Lowell Recreation Department will offer free swimming lessons at DCR’s Raymond Lord Memorial Swimming Pool for children from Lowell who are between the ages of 6-16. For more information on dates for that program, please contact lpdyouthservices@lowellma.gov.
Additionally, beginning on Saturday, June 14, 2025, DCR will expand lifeguard services to seven days a week at 30 designated swimming areas across the state from approximately 10:15 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. The agency will also open it’s two wading pools on Saturday, June 14, and the 24 agency-managed pools will open on Saturday, June 21, 2025. DCR previously opened all 79 agency beaches and 18 spay decks on Memorial Day Weekend.
DCR is continuing to recruit lifeguards to work at agency-managed beaches and swimming pools for this summer season. Certified lifeguard applicants who commit to working at an agency beach or pool through Labor Day can still earn up to $750 in bonuses, in addition to competitive hourly wages ranging from $22 to $23, depending on position and associated certifications. To apply or learn more about lifeguarding opportunities, please visit the agency’s lifeguarding webpage.
In addition to providing lifeguard services, DCR works to ensure water safety at state beaches and waterfronts by conducting regular water quality testing at all 79 designated swimming areas and has ropes and buoys in place at inland water areas to signify safe swimming areas. Beaches also have safety signage at that can be translated into nine languages – Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Haitian Creole, Traditional Chinese, Arabic, Cape Verdean Creole, Mandarin, and Russian – using a QR code, and life rings for the public to use at guarded and unguarded swimming areas in the event of an emergency.
All DCR swimming pools have chair lifts to provide access to the water. Several pools also have ramps into the water or offer zero-depth entry and select pools and spray decks also have beach wheelchairs for use.
DCR is also continuing to recruit for seasonal positions across the state. DCR manages state parks, forests, coastal and inland beaches, pools and campground facilities from the Berkshires to Cape Cod. Available positions include park rangers, park interpreters, supervisors, pool managers, drivers, coastal shore bird monitors, forestry assistants, buildings and ground maintenance workers, and office assistants. To learn more about DCR seasonal employment, please visit the agency’s seasonal jobs webpage.