NYC Extends Swimming Season At Popular Beaches
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New York City has extended the swimming season through Sept. 13 at some of its most popular beaches.
You can still take a dip daily along stretches of Rockaway Beach in Queens; Coney Island and Brighton Beaches in Brooklyn; Midland and South Beaches in Staten Island; and Orchard Beach in the Bronx.
"With 14 miles of the world's greatest city beaches, New York truly is a beach town - and any beach town worth its sand is happy to squeeze just a little more summer out of the calendar. Thanks to the Mayor and the Council, New Yorkers now have more time to swim, play, and unwind," said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver.
Officials say there's been a big increase in New York City beach attendance. They've had more than 19 million visitors since Memorial Day. That's up a million over last year.
The Parks Department says there's $687,000 in the budget to fund lifeguards, maintenance workers and other staff for the extra week.
"New York City's shoreline is one of our greatest treasures, and this year we have more time to enjoy it," Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement. "The strong demand for this extended schedule is a clear illustration that our resilience and recovery efforts have succeeded in restoring our beaches for all New Yorkers."
Details are being posted on the department's website.
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