Nahant expecting extra swimmers, lifeguards due to increase in heat

NAHANT – Beachgoers may be excited to finally hit the shore with a heat wave in effect for the weekend, but the hot weather is causing the Department of Conservation and Recreation to scramble to cover safety concerns.As the mercury continued to rise into the high 80s on Thursday, the DCR announced it would be extending lifeguard coverage at its beaches, including Long Beach in Nahant and Revere Beach, to cover the crowds expected today. Weekday lifeguard coverage on the beaches would not normally start until June 29, according to DCR spokesperson S.J. Port.”It’s not typical this early in the season,” said Port of the early coverage. “Most of our lifeguards are still in school.”After this weekend, lifeguard coverage will return to weekends until June 29. If the heat wave extends into next week, Port said the agency could run into budget and staffing problems.”We will do what we can, but it is early in the season, and I hope it doesn’t last until Monday and Tuesday, for safety’s sake,” said Port. “If one of our beaches isn’t guarded, we don’t encourage swimming, but people are welcome to dip their toes in. At this point the water is still very cold.”Nahant beachgoers should also be aware of the limited parking due to causeway construction. Until the project is completed in November, there will be only 600 parking spots versus the final 900.Port said the DCR had received some complaints about the parking related to construction, but “mostly people know what we’re doing is to create a better situation very soon.”Until the 300 spots are returned to the parking lot, Port said the DCR is making the lot as navigable as possible. “Hopefully, it won’t take away from people’s enjoyment of that beach,” she said.Kait Taylor can be reached at [email protected].