Press Releases

Beachgoers are reminded to be safe in and around the water this summer, and only swim when lifeguards are on duty

NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue has announced that the City’s public beaches will open for swimming on Saturday, May 24 and remain open through Sunday, September 7, 2025.

All NYC Parks beaches are free and open to the general public.

Lifeguards will be on duty daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. At all other times, swimming is unsafe and strictly prohibited. Closed sections are marked with signs and/or red flags.

“Each summer, our free public beaches provide millions of people with an opportunity to cool off on hot days, enjoy recreational activities, and relax with family and friends. Beyond the sand and surf, our beaches offer much more to enjoy, including a stunning nature preserve at Rockaway Beach, iconic amusement rides in Coney Island, and a nature center and athletic courts at Orchard Beach,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “As always, we're committed to ensuring that all of our beaches are clean, safe and inviting destinations, and we’re thrilled to welcome back New Yorkers and visitors from all over the world for another season of summer memories."

City beaches span a total of 14 miles and include Orchard Beach in the Bronx; Coney Island and Manhattan Beach in Brooklyn; Rockaway Beach in Queens; and Midland Beach, South Beach, Cedar Grove Beach, and Wolfe’s Pond Beach on Staten Island.

Brooklyn — Coney Island offers an ideal respite from the hectic and steamy city. With nearly three miles of sandy beaches, Coney Island’s sunny skies and rolling waves make for the perfect summer getaway. If your idea of beach fun involves more than just soaking up the sun, Coney Island also offers plenty of recreation choices such as beach volleyball and handball, as well as playgrounds and amusements. Enjoy the New York Aquarium, take in a Brooklyn Cyclones baseball game, or enjoy Coney Island amusements including the historic Deno’s Wonder Wheel, legendary Cyclone roller coaster or New York City’s newest coaster, the Phoenix. Named one of the top 25 beaches in the United States in 2024 by Travel + Leisure magazine, Coney Island’s beaches and boardwalk offer hours of entertainment for a perfect day at the shore!

The Bronx — Orchard Beach, the Bronx’s only public beach, was proclaimed “the Riviera of New York City” when it was created in the 1930s. Today, it remains a family-friendly destination for summer fun, as visitors can cool off with a refreshing swim or soak up the sun at the 1.1-mile-long beach. Orchard Beach also includes playgrounds, picnic areas, and courts for tennis, basketball, volleyball, pickleball, and handball. In 2024, Parks completed a $2.35 million reconstruction of the Orchard Beach Nature Center, which features educational displays on local wildlife, tanks with live marine creatures, and programming by the Urban Park Rangers. A reconstruction of the landmarked Orchard Beach Pavilion is ongoing, which will restore the structure’s historic architecture, increase accessibility, and create new amenities for beach visitors. Additionally, a new NYC Parks maintenance and operations building was completed in March 2025, following a $35.9 million construction project led by the NYC Department of Design and Construction. The new building consolidates and improves M&O support for the beach and Pelham Bay Park area, allowing the properties to be better served. Other recent improvements at Orchard Beach include the restoration of the original double allée of elm trees lining the mall leading up to the main entrance.

Queens — Rockaway Beach is home to the City’s only designated surfing areas and its boardwalk has become known for its diverse concessions that sell both local and international cuisine, including Venezuelan, Caribbean, Peruvian, wood-fired pizza, raw bar and lobsters, and more. The Arverne East Nature Preserve is a community resource that supports five unique maritime ecosystems across 35 acres, with pedestrian paths carefully integrated into the landscape providing access from the beach and boardwalk. In fall of 2024, we were excited to unveil the brand new $6 million Nameoke Park in nearby downtown Rockaway, while the recently constructed Beach 98th Playground received the prestigious Municipal Art Society Award for Best Urban Landscape.

Staten Island — The borough is home to four of New York City’s public beaches: Cedar Grove Beach, Midland Beach, South Beach, and Wolfe’s Pond Beach. Visitors to South Beach can sunbathe while enjoying lovely views of the Verrazzano Bridge, bike through a scenic trail, or enjoy a stop at the popular Fountain of Dolphins, which features six bronze dolphin figures that are illuminated at night. The Franklin D. Roosevelt Boardwalk connects South Beach with neighboring Midland Beach, which offers swimming as well as a playground, bocce and shuffleboard courts, bike rentals, and kayak launch sites. Stop by the Ocean Breeze Fishing Pier, which boasts spectacular views in addition to excellent fishing opportunities. Cedar Grove, the city's newest beach, is a charming and tranquil location popular with kayakers and local families. Wolfe’s Pond Beach is another restful site, ideal for those seeking a respite from summer crowds.

During summer 2024, NYC Parks welcomed more than 7.4 million visitors at public beaches citywide. Also, Travel + Leisure magazine’s 2024 list of the best beaches in the United States included two New York City beaches: Rockaway Beach and Coney Island Beach.

Beach Safety

NYC Parks is pleased to continue its free sunscreen program this summer, providing dispensers at all beaches to protect New Yorkers from long hours in the sun with SPF 30 sunscreen. In the Rockaways, the sunscreen program is funded by Episcopal Health Services in partnership with IMPACT Melanoma. The foundation will also be providing sun safety information to beach visitors throughout the summer.

In an effort to enhance public safety, NYC Parks implemented an emergency response lifeguard protocol at public beaches starting in 2024. In the event a heat advisory is issued and the city’s emergency heat plan is activated, NYC lifeguards will remain in their lifeguard stations until 8 p.m. to respond to emergencies. To educate the public on water safety, our Urban Park Rangers conduct tabling at beaches around the city to inform the public on rip currents and the availability of free Learn to Swim classes. Information is provided to beachgoers in multiple languages. Additionally, Parks lifeguards are participating in school assembly events to inform young New Yorkers how to stay safe in the water this summer.

Accessibility

To ensure that our beaches are accessible for all, NYC Parks provides beach mats at selected areas so that beachgoers with mobility devices can safely travel from the boardwalk all the way to the high tide line. Beach wheelchairs are also available at no cost to navigate further distances along our beaches. Wheelchairs are available daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and advance reservations are required. New this year, Parks has unveiled a Beach Wheelchair Request Form to reserve a beach wheelchair at least 48 hours in advance of your visit to the beach.

Stay Informed

Sign up for Notify NYC and opt-in to “beach notifications” to receive real-time opening and closing notifications.

Water quality at all beaches is monitored regularly by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. If necessary, easy-to-read water quality advisory signs are posted to ensure that all beachgoers are aware of any health or safety risks. For more information, visit the Health Department’s NYC beaches page or view its Beach Water Quality Map.

NYC Parks outdoor pools will open on June 27, 2025.