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Business & Economy

Park Service Hustles To Staff Cape Hatteras Seashore With Lifeguards

WUNC | By Rebecca Martinez
Published April 14, 2014 at 9:17 AM EDT
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Lifeguard funding has been cut for the Cape Hatteras Seashore. Now, the National Park Service is looking for contractors who can help tighten belts while staffing three beaches with lifeguards.

The National Parks Service is trying to keep at least a few lifeguards on the Cape Hatteras Seashore this summer.

Federal officials cut the $200,000 program that staffed three beaches seven days a week during the summer.

Now, Outer Banks Group Superintendent Barclay Trimble said he wants lifeguard service contractors to offer bids that can accommodate a tighter budget.

“What we're looking at on the contracting proposal is shorter shifts that will not exceed eight hours a day, so we can help limit the amount of people that we would have to have on a daily basis, and get away with two people instead of four,” Trimble explained.
 

Trimble said he hopes Dare and Hyde Counties would consider sharing the cost of keeping the other beaches open longer.

He added that he hopes they'll be able to offer guarded beaches from Memorial to Labor Day weekend.

Business & EconomyCape HatterasBeachesNational ParksOuter Banks
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Rebecca Martinez
Rebecca Martinez produces podcasts at WUNC. She’s been at the station since 2013, when she produced Morning Edition and reported for newscasts and radio features. Rebecca also serves on WUNC’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accountability (IDEA) Committee.
See stories by Rebecca Martinez
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