GLEN COVE, NY — After nearly two decades closed due to elevated bacteria levels, Glen Cove's Crescent Beach will reopen on Friday.
The decision to reopen after 17 years was announced in April after the Nassau County Department of Health found a reduction in bacteria levels from samples analyzed in the past two years, and ultimately, deemed the waters safe again.
After a heavy rainfall in June 2009, elevated levels of microbiological contamination were found in the bathing waters. The City of Glen Cove and NCDOH worked on an investigation, tracing the elevated levels to a nearby stream.
To restore the bacteria levels, the City installed Helix filter systems and a box culvert near the base of the stream. This was all part of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)-approved remediation plan.
Many people and organizations, including environmental groups and government officials, worked together to restore the waters and make the reopening a success.
Councilwoman Delia DeRiggi-Whitton shared on Facebook that there will be a press conference on the opening day, May 15, 2026, at Crescent Beach at 10 a.m. with elected leaders and community members
DeRiggi-Whitton said this beach is a nostalgic site for her, particularly as a Glen Cove resident, where she taught swimming lessons and was a former lifeguard.
"Generations of our neighbors have made and shared memories here, and Friday marks the opportunity for a new generation to experience this beautiful treasure right in our backyard," she wrote.
She credits the past mayors of Glen Cove, Glen Cove City Council colleagues, and the Nassau County Legislature for their hard work in making this possible.
"This collaborative effort would not have been complete, though, without the cooperation and investment of the local residents around Crescent Beach, who were instrumental in helping make the improvements necessary to combat the runoff issue that has plagued us for so long," she wrote.
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