Norwich – City officials have given up on the plan to hire lifeguards to open Spaulding Pond to swimming this summer, so instead will use the funding set aside to provide free trips to Ocean Beach Park in New London for Norwich residents on the next two Fridays.

The city will pay for the bus trip and entry into Ocean Beach Park for all Norwich residents this Friday and on Aug. 25, and if enough people are interested, a trip will be arranged for Labor Day, said Norwich Human Services Director Lee Ann Gomes, who is serving as interim recreation director.

The bus, with a capacity of 50 people, will depart from the Norwich Recreation Department, 75 Mohegan Road, at 10 a.m. and will leave Ocean Beach at 2 p.m. Participants may register early by calling the Recreation Department at (860) 823-3791 or by coming early on the days of the trips. The bus will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

All minors up to age 18 must be accompanied by an adult. A Human Services staff member will attend the trip, but staff will not supervise minors, Gomes said.

Participants may bring coolers with food and non-alcoholic beverages.

Gomes said the trips were organized at the request of City Manager John Salomone, who asked city staff to find an alternative option once it became clear the city's effort to find qualified lifeguards for Mohegan Park was unsuccessful. The city had budgeted $38,000 for lifeguards, but the budget was approved too late in June to secure lifeguards for the summer.

Gomes said officials considered renting time at local hotel pools or other pools, but one location would limit pool use to 25 people, and another wanted the city to provide its own lifeguard.

Ocean Beach became the best alternative, she said, because participants could take advantage of either the fully staffed beach or pool, use the splash pad or could buy food or rides or miniature golf.

Gomes said the city wanted to start the trips last Friday, but there were no participants on short notice. She contacted numerous human services agencies and is spreading the word.

“We've gotten a ton of phone calls from people at the rec department and said it was a good idea,” Gomes said.

c.bessette@theday.com