New York City beaches and pools were set to close for the year on Sunday — but new bill could stretch the season well into October if it becomes law.
The bill — introduced in January by City Council Member Shekar Krishnan — would extend the summer season to the second Sunday in October, and stretch each day’s operating hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. It would also move the official opening date back to the second Saturday in May.
That’s more than a month of extra days for Big Apple bathers, and four more hours daily — the current season typically runs from Memorial Day in May to Labor Day in September, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
New York’s beaches are open year-round for walking, but swimming is only allowed in-season when lifeguards are on duty. Council Member Krishnan’s legislation would also apply to city pools, with indoor pool hours lasting from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
“I introduced legislation to expand beach and pool season. As climate change lengthens our summers, we need to ensure people can enjoy the beach safely,” Krishnan said in a statement Saturday ahead of the season closure.
“My legislation does just that and will keep the fun times going until October,” he added.
The bill — Introduction 262 — is currently with the Committee on Parks and Recreation and does not have a vote scheduled, but it has nine co-sponsors and could come into effect as early as next season if it is voted into law.
But it’s not the first time such a bill has been proposed — Council Member Krishnan pushed a similar bill in 2024, but it petered out after critics in the Parks Department argued staffing and operation costs would would be too much for the city budget to handle.
It remains unclear what extending the season could cost New York, but officials estimated during a similar 2015 push that bills could run around $1 million per extra week.
This year’s beach season was already extended a week — which the city occasionally adds on — but Krishnan’s bill aims to make extended seasons permanent.
Read the full article here