NYC beaches will open for Memorial Day Weekend
Photo of Coney Island by Dan DeLuca on Flickr
After a shortened season in 2020, New York City’s public pools and beaches will open on time this summer, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Wednesday. All eight city beaches will open for the season starting Memorial Day Weekend on Saturday, May 29, with 48 outdoor pools welcoming swimmers beginning on June 26. Last year, beaches and pools did not open for swimming until July 1 and August 1, respectively, because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Beaches and pools are coming back this summer, but remember: https://t.co/VTU2Hb1hQM pic.twitter.com/JvNkLHExke
— NYC Mayor’s Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) April 7, 2021
“Summer is right around the corner, and we’re gearing up for an on-time pool and beach season,” de Blasio said. “These beautiful outdoor spaces mean so much to New Yorkers, especially after the year we’ve all had. We’ll continue to follow health guidance to ensure the safety of everyone. Stay cool, stay safe and have fun!”
Starting Memorial Day Weekend, lifeguards will be on duty from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. City-run beaches include Orchard Beach in the Bronx, Brighton Beach, Coney Island Beach, and Manhattan Beach in Brooklyn, Cedar Grove Beach, Midland Beach/ South Beach, Wolfe’s Pond Beach on Staten Island, and Rockaway Beach in Queens.
On June 26, the last day of school for public school students, all but five of the city’s 53 outdoor pools will open for normal hours, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. A list of all public city pools across the five boroughs can be found here.
“Get ready to make a splash this summer, New York! After last year’s unprecedented challenges, we are so excited to announce that our outdoor pools and beaches will be opening on time this season,” NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver said. “We want all New Yorkers to stay cool while keeping safety first. Remember to only enter the water in designated areas during lifeguard hours and continue following health and safety guidelines.”
Additional summer-friendly activities reopening or already open in some capacity include Coney Island’s Luna Park and Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park, events, arts, and entertainment venues at limited capacities, Yankee Stadium and Citi Field, Open Culture programs on over 100 open streets, permanent outdoor dining, and more.
City Comptroller and mayoral candidate Scott Stringer this week proposed bringing pop-up “dumpster pools” to the city’s designated Open Streets, particularly in neighborhoods that are adversely affected by heat. When asked by a reporter about the idea during a press conference on Wednesday, de Blasio said it is “a great thing for us to look at.”
“We can get the most out of Open Streets as we want to, we’re certainly going to look at that option and see if that’s something we can do as well,” the mayor said.
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