New York City’s Public Beaches Open For The Summer Starting Saturday, May 23

Coney Island. Photo by Dana Andreea Gheorghe on Unsplash

Beachgoers are reminded to only swim when lifeguards are on duty between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily 

Landmark Orchard Beach Pavilion reopens this summer following $114 million reconstruction

NYC Parks has announced that the City’s public beaches will open for swimming on Saturday, May 23 and remain open through Sunday, September 13, 2026.  

All NYC Parks beaches are free and open to everyone. 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 will be marked with signs and/or red flags. 

In 2025, more than 8 million people visited New York City’s public beaches.  

Parks 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. The Coney Island experience is only getting better — last year, the City announced a major $1 billion investment for a future reconstruction of the Riegelmann Boardwalk to ensure it can remain an iconic part of New York City summers for generations to come. Parks will also undertake a future $42 million renovation of the Abe Stark Sports Center to upgrade the beloved ice-skating facilities and better link the center with the community. In addition to fun in the sun and on the ice, 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 26 Best Beaches in the U.S. for Sand, Surf, and Scenic Escapes in 2026 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. A focal point of the beach is the landmarked Orchard Beach Pavilion, which reopened on May 20 for the first time in 17 years following a major renovation to restore its historic architecture, increase ADA accessibility, and provide enhanced amenities for visitors including new concession space. The beach also includes playgrounds, picnic areas, and courts for tennis, basketball, volleyball, pickleball, and handball. The Orchard Beach Nature Center features educational displays on local wildlife, tanks with live marine creatures, and programming by the Urban Park Rangers.  

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.  

Staten Island — The borough is home to four public beaches: Cedar Grove Beach, Midland Beach, South Beach, and Wolfe’s Pond Beach. Visitors to South Beach can sunbathe in a relaxed atmosphere 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, shuffleboard courts, 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. Starting in 2026, NYC Parks has a dedicated annual maintenance fund for the repair and upkeep of the FDR Boardwalk, established last year by former Mayor Eric Adams. This will provide for a dedicated seasonal maintenance staff to keep the boardwalk in top condition throughout our busiest season. Wolfe’s Pond and Cedar Grove beaches will be open for swimming until Monday, September 7. 

Beach Safety 

Thanks to aggressive recruitment and expansion of training opportunities, Parks has been rebuilding its seasonal lifeguard corps year-over-year during a nationwide shortage — last year marked the highest staffing level since 2019 for lifeguards manning beaches and outdoor pools, including a 23 percent increase in new recruits.  

In 2026, Parks will have new, bright-orange lifeguard gators in operation at all beaches, helping lifeguards to respond quickly to emergencies. 

To educate the public on water safety, our Urban Park Rangers have conducted 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 participate in school assembly events to inform young New Yorkers how to stay safe in the water this summer. 

NYC Parks is proud 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. 

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. In 2025, Parks 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 for the summer season on Saturday, June 27, 2026.