“It was beautiful then,” he said. “You cycled there, checked your bike – they watched it for you – and paid 25 cents to go swimming. »
A short drive from Bradford Beach on Lake Michigan, where the sign warned visitors there would be no lifeguards on duty, some Milwaukee residents said the absence felt like a loss for a ritual beloved.
Tyesha Shareef, 29, was at the beach during a break from her job in real estate, spending a quiet moment staring at the water from her car. She has fond memories of coming to the beach as a child, she said, when lifeguards were plentiful and crowds were bigger.
“I remember it was so great back then,” she said, adding that even though her 2-year-old daughter could swim, she wouldn’t want to take her into the water without a lifeguard. , knowing how quickly a child can escape even the most attentive parent.
“I just don’t think it’s safe,” Ms Shareef said. ” It’s not the same thing. »
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