'Lower expectations' — NYC beaches may be closed all summer, mayor says

Rockaway Beach in happier days. Photo by Katie Finkowski

By David Brand

Beaches along the Rockaway Peninsula and elsewhere in New York City may not open this summer, said Mayor Bill de Blasio Thursday.

Keeping the beaches closed would promote social distancing and prevent the spread of the coronavirus, said de Blasio, who encouraged New Yorkers to “lower expectations” for how to spend the summer months.

“Imagine Coney Island in the summer,” he said. “Hundreds of thousands of people packed tightly together, I don’t see that happening any time soon.”

De Blasio acknowledged that people can still visit the beach to walk along the shoreline or take a dip, but the “notion of having lifeguards and people coming to the beach as normal, we don’t have that in our sights yet.”

The city will also empty all seven public pools in Queens — as well as pools in the other four boroughs — for the entire summer, a cost-cutting measure that will save the city $12 million.

“I don’t want to create a situation where people start gathering,” he added. “If things evolve, we’ll assess our options going forward.”

The Mayor’s Office released its $89.3 billion executive budget Thursday, a plan that includes cuts to dozens of city programs in response to revenue losses and the coronavirus economic shutdown.