Beaches and parks are for relaxing and leaving stress behind, so it’s no wonder most of us don’t stop to recognize that all that chilling takes a lot of work. Ally Kosmala, lead beach supervisor for the Beach and Recreation Department, is an unsung employee who keeps the town’s beaches and parks organized and running smoothly.

A 2017 Daniel Hand High School graduate, Ally has been with the department since 2018, working her way up from gate guard to supervisor in just a few short seasons.

“I started working in the summer of 2018. I started out as a gate guard because, back then, that’s how it worked. When you first start out, you start as a gate guard and then move up to patrol, which is walking the grounds,” says Ally. “My second year, we had a new supervisor, and they changed how the positions worked so that you fluctuated between guard and patrol jobs, and then COVID happened. I was assistant supervisor…and then the lead supervisor job was kind of sprung on me at the last minute because the original person dropped out.”

Ally says the job is seasonal, but she does work much of the year preparing, coordinating, and organizing.

“The season really goes until the last football game of the year, so we do nights and weekends then,” Ally says. “Then we have a hiatus until the spring sports start up, but in between that period, [Beach and Recreation Director] Austin [Hall] and I are in pretty much constant communication setting up for the next year…seeing who is coming back, doing interviews, and then we coordinate schedules for fall and spring. So, it’s pretty much all year round at this point.”

Coordinating her staff and ensuring all positions are covered is no mean feat. Beach staff for most shoreline towns is hard to come by, as teens no longer see a “summer job” as a necessity.

“I’m the head of the whole operations at the beach. I report to Austin, and I’m kind of the ‘middleperson’ between the staff and Austin. I report to him,” says Ally. “I oversee the supervisors, the head lifeguard super, and she has two assistants this year, which is great; they will help out a lot this year. Mostly, I just make sure that all the positions are doing what they need to be doing. Making sure they have what they need. I’m not lifeguard-certified, but I still need to make sure that everyone is up on their training and that everyone is where they need to be with certifications.”

Ally says the staff works hard to make the beach experience as smooth as possible for residents.

“We also have biweekly meetings and training on emergency protocols. We plan out drills and have surprise drills on a biweekly basis as well. We need to monitor how they do and provide feedback. It’s unlikely we’ll have an emergency, but we need to be prepared for it. There is a big staff, and we need to make sure we are up-to-date on all training,” says Ally.

During the summer months, the Surf Club stays open until 11 p.m. At 5 p.m., some staff members’ days are just beginning, and Ally has to ensure coverage for the evening patrons who visit the parks.

“If there was a first-aid situation, certainly we would call 911, but we need to know where all the first aid is, how to perform basic care and have that basic knowledge,” says Ally. “The club building usually isn’t open unless there is a specific event, but the beach and the premises are open until 11 p.m., so their duties don’t end at five [o’clock]. We have two patrol people who are here. A lot of people will come down with dogs or try to fish after hours, so we have to have staff here for that. We need to make sure everyone is safe. They also drive over to East Wharf and West Wharf and check on those spots and make sure everything is well there too.”

Ally says there really isn’t an average day for her and the staff. There is a constant stream of patrons and beachgoers with questions, but safety is always at the forefront for the department. Though Long Island Sound waters are relatively benign with little rough surf, broken glass, jellyfish, and weather are a constant juggling act for Ally.

“We’ve already had a wave of jellyfish coming in; these ones don’t sting, but the stinging ones will be arriving soon enough,” says Ally. “The typical day is really just everyone doing their jobs. The staff take up their positions, and the supervisors, one will be selling passes, one on patrol making sure everything is under control, and another will be checking other beaches or helping out where they’re needed. The goal is to check the beaches every two hours at a minimum, especially if it’s hot. We need to not just make sure residents are okay but staff too. So, we are bringing water and ice pops back and forth. A typical day is relaxed and chill, and there’s not much stress, but we have to be vigilant all the time because you never know when something might happen.”

Ally says keeping fun for patrons and staff is also a priority. Like many safety jobs, battling boredom and complacency is critical in making any beach fun but safe.

“This year, we are setting up two tent stations with staff that will kind of be more like an info booth for people. One out on the deck and one down at boat beach (Garvan Point),” Ally says. “Residents can ask questions and give us an eye in that area at all times. We’ll always have someone in the picnic area ready to react. We’ve noticed over the years that it’s important to get to know each other and know each other well, so we have developed team bonding exercises. We like to do that to make sure what they should be doing but in a fun way.”

Ally says residents are on board with how the beach is operated.

“We don’t have too much trouble with kids partying; they are usually afraid of us,” Ally laughs. “I think people are pretty understanding when we say it’s time to lock up, and there are always people upset about the prices and that they have to pay to park, but we get that. But I think it’s actually gotten better. During COVID, it was probably worse because we had restrictions on the numbers of people allowed on the beaches.”

Ally praises her staff and says residents should know how hard the crew works to provide the safety and organization they’ve come to expect.

“Last year, I was nervous because most of the staff people who come back were not coming back, so we had really a whole new crop of staff, and I was kind of worried how we would manage that. We had become such a tight-knit crew, we used to all hang out together after work and have a kickball game or something, but the new group came in and immediately fit right in, and all of them got along. It’s a mixture of high schoolers and college folks and a few new people, but it is really a great environment.”