Seasonal & Holidays

NYC Beach Guide: Where To Catch Some Rays

The New York City public beaches open for the summer season on Memorial Day Weekend.

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Crowds of people on a busy day at Coney Island
Crowds of people on a busy day at Coney Island (Courtesy of Tim Lee)

NEW YORK, NY — Pick out your swimsuit, grab your towel and sun screen – it's time for New York City's beaches to open.

Sunny weather is expected across New York City for Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer. NYC's eight public beaches will be open from 10 a.m until 6 p.m until September 8.

If the open water isn't for you, New York City public outdoor pools will re-open on June 27.

Find out what's happening in New York Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The Parks Department has published a list of water safety tips and pool guidelines to help keep New Yorkers safe this summer, as well as a fun beach quiz to find out which beach suits them best.

Beaches

Find out what's happening in New York Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Brighton Beach at Coney Island

Borough: Brooklyn
Address: W 37th Street to Ocean Parkway
Brighton Beach is one of the main attractions of Brooklyn's Coney Island, an iconic destination comprising the famous boardwalk and amusement park, the New York Aquarium, the Abe Stark Skating Rink and the MCU Park baseball stadium. Lifeguards are on duty daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Swimming is prohibited when lifeguards are not on duty and in closed sections, which are marked with signs or red flags. Beach rules are available on the Brighton Beach web page.
The bicycle and skate path is open from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m., mobile charging stations are on the premises. Metered street parking is also available.

Cedar Grove Beach

Borough: Staten Island
Address: Ebbitts Street and Cedar Grove Avenue
Cedar Grove is New York City's newest beach, a converted oceanfront bungalow colony that the Parks Department describes as charming and family-friendly. With clear views of the Manhattan Bridge, Cedar Grove is smaller than its neighboring Midland Beach and South Beach. Free parking is available and beach mats are available for wheelchair access.

Manhattan Beach

Borough: Brooklyn
Address: Oriental Boulevard, from Ocean Avenue to Mackenzie Street
The small, family-friendly beach to the east of Brighton Beach attracts locals looking for a calmer experience than its bustling Coney Island neighbor. Visitors bring picnic baskets and set up barbecues along the shore.
Parking is available for $6 from Monday through Friday and $20 on weekends and holidays. The bicycle and skate path is open from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Midland Beach
Borough: Staten Island
Address: Fort Wadsworth to Miller Field, Midland Beach
Midland Beach shares the Franklin D. Roosevelt Boardwalk with its neighbor, South Beach, and is the less crowded of the two. Attractions include courts for tennis and shuffle ball, a playground and a sea turtle fountain for children. There are also free parking lots and mobile charging stations on site, and barbecuing is allowed on Midland and Lincoln Avenues.

Orchard Beach

Borough: Bronx
Address: Long Island Sound in Pelham Bay Park
Orchard Beach is The Bronx's only public beach, proclaimed "The Riviera of New York" when it was created in the 1930s. At 115 acres and 1.1 miles long, Orchard Beach includes a hexagonal-block promenade, two playgrounds, two picnic areas and 26 courts for volleyball, basketball and handball. Changing areas, showers and mobile charging stations are also available on site.
Parking is available for $7 from Monday through Friday for cars and vans and $9 on weekends and holidays. A senior citizen discount is available for weekdays.

Rockaway Beach

Borough: Queens
Address: Beach Ninth Street, Far Rockaway to Beach 149th Street, Neponsit
Forest Hills natives Ramones had the right idea: hitch a ride to Rockaway Beach. This Queens beach is described on the Parks Department website as a year-round resource for residents all along the Rockaway peninsula, but it comes alive with hordes of visitors in the summer.
Parking is free from B. 11th to B. 15th Street and at B. 95th Street. Concession stands and mobile charging stations line the length of the beach and a bicycle path will be open along the boardwalk, which is closed between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

South Beach

Borough: Staten Island
Address: Fort Wadsworth to Miller Field
Located on New York Bay, South Beach invites visitors the opportunity to sunbathe while taking in a view of the Verrazano Bridge, bike along a scenic trail, kayak, play tennis or fish off the Ocean Breeze Fishing Pier. A park on the beach, specially designed for senior citizens, contains chess tables, bocce courts and benches. Be sure to check out the beach's Fountain of Dolphins.
Free parking is available.

Wolfe's Pond Beach

Borough: Staten Island
Address: Raritan Bay and Prince's Bay, Holton to Cornelia Avenues
Wolfe's Pond Park, one of Staten Island's largest parks, wears many hats. To some, the Parks Department says, Wolfe's Pond Park is a beautiful beach. To others, it is a wildlife and plant preserve. For all, it is a recreation area with space to run, jump and climb. Facilities include barbecuing areas, fishing, tennis courts, hiking trails and dog-friendly areas.

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