The air was full of the laughter of kids, music from speakers, and the whistles from lifeguards motivated by early-season hyper-vigilance. It was early afternoon of the first Monday of summer vacation at the Tibbetts Brook Park pool, better known as The Brook.
James, 17, was working his first day as a lifeguard. “I’m excited as much as I am nervous.” With no real idea of what to expect, James hopes that it’ll be a “really chill summer, a chill job and a time to make some money.”
Gloria was also working her first day as an ice cream cart vendor. She said business was slow, but she expected to receive more customers as the afternoon progressed. “It’s pretty hot today, and the bad thing is it’s only going to get hotter,” said Gloria. “I hope I can sell a lot of ice cream in the heat later and maybe have a fan for my station, because it’s going to get really hot later this week.”
Others at The Brook were ready for another year of helping out. Francisco, 17, was returning for a second tour of duty. “My first year was calm. This is my first job and I’ve been having a great experience. We have a good facility, and a great staff who make the job fun.” Going into his senior year of high school, he speaks with the calm assurance of a seasoned poolside vet. “I look forward to helping all our rookies do top-notch work. I expect everyone to do what they gotta do to make sure everyone’s safe, and I expect no serious emergencies.”
A guy just the same age as Francisco had just graduated from high school, and was in no hurry to seek employment. Julian, 17, was just hanging with friends.. “My senior year was pretty annoying, and I’m just glad I don’t have to touch another book for a while,” said Julian. “Maybe I’ll find a job later on in the summer, but for now I’ll just chill in the lazy river and have fun with my boys.”
Then there are the parents, who despite their inescapable responsibilities still enjoy a good second-hand splash. Carlos, 27, had been eagerly looking forward to getting his toddler son under the sprayers. “He gets super energetic and it sucks when it’s too cold to go out. At least now he can take his energy out at the park, it makes my girlfriend and I’s lives much easier.”
A final Bomb Pop from Gloria’s cart didn’t melt fast enough to save itself from being enjoyed.
For any Westchester County residents looking for a nice place to enjoy the warm weather: The Brook at Tibbetts Brook Park awaits. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Pool fees range from $5 to $17, with parking $5 for pass holders and $10 otherwise. 355 Midland Ave., Yonkers.
