Johnson Beach Lifeguard Tower

NPS Photo

Year: 2017 Total cost: $48,793.57

The park’s swim beaches are guarded in the summer by Escambia County, FL lifeguards. These lifeguards ensure that visitors have a safe and enjoyable visit to the beach. In addition to guarding swim beaches, these lifeguards also post surf conditions flags at unguarded access points to the beach.

This project funded the replacement of the Perdido Key, Johnson Beach Lifeguard tower. Lifeguard towers provide a strategic position for lifeguards to observe their area of responsibility and quickly respond for life saving water rescues. Additionally, towers help the lifeguards to manage visitor beach activities effectively by providing the vantage point to clearly see swimmers in the water.

Finally, the towers protect the lifeguards themselves, providing protection from the sun and storage for all their surf lifeguard rescue equipment. Towers at the park last about 10-12 years, due to the normal wear from the corrosive beach environment and excessive movement on and off the beaches because of tropical storms, hurricanes, and the start and end of seasons. Thanks to funding provided by park entrance fees, the park is able to replace this critical life saving equipment as soon as necessary.