MAYVILLE — After being vacant for a couple of years due to COVID-19, a day camp program for children will be returning to Lakeside Park.

The Mayville Village Board approved a contract with Therapy Connection, LLC to provide a summer day camp program at the park beginning July 5 through Aug. 11 at a cost of $35,000.

The resolution was approved at the May village board meeting. In April, Dr. Jessi Swanson with Therapy Connection discussed the program.

A Mayville resident, Swanson said the goal is to have a 12-to-1 student-to-staff ratio. They are prepared for 70 to 100 children. Students who participate will be between 5 and 14 years old. The six-week program will run Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

In the past, the village ran its own summer program. By contracting with Therapy Connection, the village no longer will hire its own staff. Mayor Ken Shearer said the amount the village is paying Swanson is roughly what they would have spent running their own program.

Swanson said they do have lifeguards for their program, however, they are not planning on providing lifeguards for the general community.

Shearer said the village hasn’t been successful to find lifeguards to staff the beach on the weekends. He said other municipalities have had similar challenges. “Chautauqua Institution called me, Westfield called me and the village of Lakewood called to see if we had any lifeguards. … It’s a common theme,” he said.

He said the village was looking to pay $15 to $16 an hour for lifeguards. They’re going to continue to seek lifeguards and said there is a program with Chautauqua Institution that will help train and certify lifeguards.

No announcement was made on how soon parents will be able to sign up children for the summer program. Even though the village board approved the resolution, it was made pending review by the village attorney.