NYC Memorial Day Beach Guide 2022: What You Need To Know

NEW YORK CITY — Pack a towel, sunscreen and a good plan if you're heading to the beach this Memorial Day weekend, New Yorkers.

A one-two punch of stormy weather Saturday and season-long beach closures for parts of Rockaway Beach could literally and figuratively rain on some sunshine seekers' parade this year.

But all is not lost for beachgoers.

The skies are predicted to clear Sunday and Memorial Day itself will be sunny, with highs pushing 90 degrees. And much of Rockaway will be open to swimming, along with the seven other city beaches when beach season officially begins Saturday.

Here's a quick guide for your beach plans.

Looking For A beach? We've Got You Covered

First things first, the city's eight beaches have one major rule for swimming.

Swimming is only allowed when lifeguards are on duty from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

And where can one find a beach? Here's a quick list.

Brighton Beach at Coney Island

Borough: Brooklyn

Address: Ocean Parkway to Corbin Place

Brighton Beach is right next to Brooklyn's Coney Island and often (but not always) draws less of a crowd.

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 in Great Kills Park. The Parks Department describes it as "smaller and somewhat more tranquil than its neighbors, Midland Beach and South Beach."

Coney Island and Coney Island Boardwalk

Borough: Brooklyn

Address: West 37th Street to Ocean Parkway

For many outside the city, Coney Island is the New York City beach — and it's not hard to see why. From the famous boardwalk to Luna Park to the New York Aquarium, the beach boasts much more than just sand.

Manhattan Beach

Borough: Brooklyn

Address: Oriental Boulevard, from Ocean Avenue to Mackenzie Street

A family-friendly beach east of Brighton Beach attracts locals looking for a calmer experience.

Parking is available for $7 from Monday through Friday and $22 on weekends and holidays.

Midland Beach

Borough: Staten Island

Address: Fort Wadsworth to Miller Field, Midland Beach

Verrazzano Bridge views define this beach, which also offers a scenic trail for biking, a boardwalk and Ocean Breeze Fishing Pier, one of the city's most popular.

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, according to the Parks Department.

Parking is available for $8 from Monday through Friday for cars and vans and $10 on weekends and holidays. A senior citizen discount is available for weekdays.

Rockaway Beach

Er, see note below.

South Beach

Borough: Staten Island

Address: Fort Wadsworth to Miller Field

Located on New York Bay, South Beach also boasts a view of the Verrazzano Bridge. Be sure to check out the beach's Fountain of Dolphins.

Wolfe's Pond Beach

Borough: Staten Island

Address: Raritan Bay and Prince's Bay, Holton to Cornelia Avenues

Wolfe's Pond Park is the city's "best-kept secret," at least according to the Parks Department. It offers a small, calm and secluded beach.

Not So Fast, Rockaway Beach

An Army Corps of Engineers shorefront resiliency project is hitting Rockaway Beach this summer.

Engineers will construct 19 new stone groin structures to stabilize and replenish the beach, according to the parks department.

But the project will require some closures — and many people, especially local business owners dependent on summer beachgoers, aren't happy.

Many people aren't happy with Rockaway closures, especially business owners dependent on summer beachgoers.

Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Gregory Meeks implored the Corps to listen to locals' concerns.

"While the completion of these groins to protect the Rockaways shorefront in advance of this year’s hurricane season is absolutely necessary, so too are the concerns of the residents and local businesses owners, who are the heart of the Rockaway community," they wrote in a letter.
The closures, however, won't affect the entirety of the beach.

An updated list of closures and opening can be found here once beaches have opened for swimming.

The main stretch of no access is roughly between Beach 92 and Beach 121 blocks, according to the parks department.

Here are the exact beach blocks of no access:

• Beach 92-95 (May through July)
• Beach 109-111 (May through July)
• Beach 114-117 (July through September)
• Beach 119-121 (July through September)

Sand and recreation access will allowed, but swimming will not, at these beach blocks:

• Beach 13-16
• Beach 18-32
• Beach 36-38
• Beach 65-69
• Beach 86-91
• Beach 146-149
• Beach 95-108 (May through July)
• Beach 112-116 (May through July)
• Beach 115-121 (July through September)
• Beach 136-140 (July through September)

Full access for swimming, sand and recreation will be allowed here:

• Beach 9-13
• Beach 16-18
• Beach 32-36
• Beach 59-65
• Beach 69-86
• Beach 117-145 (May through July)
• Beach 91-109 (July through September)
• Beach 112-114 (July through September)
• Beach 121-136 (July through September)
• Beach 140-145 (July through September)

Weekend Weather: Storms, Rip Currents, Then Sunny Skies

Would-be beachgoers who can only grab sandy fun Saturday might be out of luck.

The forecast calls for a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, according to the National Weather Service.

And if the expected partly sunny skies and 76-degree highs open up between storms, swimmers face another danger: rip currents.

A high rip current risk is in effect through Saturday evening, according to a hazardous weather outlook.

"Life-threatening rip currents are likely for all people entering the surf zone," the outlook states. "Anyone visiting the beaches should stay out of the surf. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water."

But buck up, the weather likely will get better Sunday and Memorial Day.

Sunday will be sunny, with highs near 72 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Memorial Day will have mostly sunny skies with a high near 87 degrees, the forecast states.