Kennywood, Sandcastle, Idlewild Continue Hiring Push as Parks Near Opening Day
With less than two weeks to go until Pittsburgh’s amusement and water parks finally open for the 2020 season, Kennywood, Sandcastle Waterpark and Idlewild & SoakZone look to put the finishing touches on their teams with a hiring push prior to opening to Season Passholders on July 7.
Kennywood continues in its longtime role as the largest youth employer in the Tri-State area. The park is nearing its goal to hire about 1,500 individuals to work in its Rides, Games, Food & Beverage, Grounds and Public Safety departments. Idlewild will employ about 800 employees and Sandcastle approximately 400 people for the same departments. Both those parks are also recruiting lifeguards and offering free lifeguard training.
The normally active winter and spring hiring periods were slowed significantly by the COVID-19 pandemic and uncertainty surrounding this summer. With all three parks opening in phases beginning July 6, the Human Resources departments have hit the ground running in search of quality, hard-working individuals. While high school and college students are traditionally the bulk of each park’s seasonal staff, the number of mid-career professionals and senior citizens choosing to spend part of their summer months on amusement park midways continues to grow.
“Working at Kennywood is a great entry on any young adult’s resume,” says Joe Barron, Human Resources Director for Kennywood and Sandcastle. “But it’s also a wonderful opportunity for professionals looking to get back to work, or supplement their income with a job that’s engaging, unique and often quite fun!”
Employment at Kennywood, Sandcastle and Idlewild brings perks such as flexible scheduling, scholarship programs, free admission to all three parks and other regional amusement parks, team-building activities such as movie nights, and discounts on park food and merchandise.
Each park will build upon their longstanding emphasis on clean, safe environments with a series of new health and safety measures following the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and best practices within the amusement and attractions industries.
“We’re devoting more Team Members to cleaning and sanitizing than ever before,” says Idlewild & SoakZone Human Resources Director Jimmy Singer. “We have modified our recruitment, orientation and training processes to best ensure the health and safety of our staff from their first minutes on the job.”
Retirees, adults and teenagers interested in seasonal work are encouraged to apply online today. Most Kennywood, Sandcastle and Idlewild seasonal positions are available to applicants age 16 and older. Some job opportunities are available to those age 14 and 15. For more information and to apply online, visit the Employment pages of each park: Kennywood, Sandcastle or Idlewild.