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Very short beach and pool season ends
Due to the pandemic, New York City opened its beaches and outdoor pools very late this season. And now that season is coming to a close. Every city agency had to cut back its budget.
NEW YORK - Beginning on Tuesday, if you want to enjoy the beach, you're going to have to leave New York City. The city's beaches closed to swimming at 6 p.m. and pools closed at 7 p.m. on Monday, Labor Day, for the season even though they opened late due to the pandemic.
Councilman Mark Treyger acknowledged that while every city agency faced cuts in order to help close a $9B budget deficit with no help from Albany or the federal government, he still blamed Mayor Bill de Blasio's administration for poor planning.
"They dragged their feet with regards to the beach decision in the beginning, which cost precious time, remember lifeguards were held back in terms of training and the swimming season was shortened because of that decision by the mayor," Treyger said.
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NYC beaches close this week
Beaches and pools across the five boroughs will close for the season on September 8, but they will remain open just a few miles away on Long Island.
A spokesperson for Mayor de Blasio confirmed with FOX 5 NY that cuts to the Parks Department caused layoffs to hundreds of seasonal workers, which is the main reason the season has to end, there simply aren’t enough staff and lifeguards available.
Meanwhile, on Long Island, Nassau County officials announced that they would keep their beaches open on the weekends through September. State beaches in our area will be open daily for swimming through September 20, and some beaches in New Jersey will also be open through the end of the month.
In Brooklyn, the Alliance for Coney Island says they are worried about the local economy.
"Not having the beach and shortening that season really impacted the business in a bad way, negatively impacted them, to say the least, and they really see an uptick when we have visitors in Coney Island and the beach is a big part of that so we really wish they could stay open longer," said Alexandra Silversmith, the executive director of the Alliance for Coney Island.
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Coney Island businesses struggling to stay alive
It’s still unclear when New York City’s amusement parks will reopen, and now, business owners on Coney Island are making a last-ditch effort to save what remains of their season.