Overview
- City beaches will open for swimming on Saturday, May 23 and remain open through Sept. 13 with lifeguards posted daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and free public access.
- Outdoor public pools are scheduled to reopen on Saturday, June 27 and will operate daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. with a cleaning break from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- The Parks Department says lifeguard recruitment improved last year with more than 1,000 staff and a 23% rise in recruits, but final 2026 certification continues into July so total staffing levels are still being finalized.
- This season highlights recent capital work and new equipment: Rockaway’s rebuilt 5.5-mile boardwalk from a $341 million post‑Sandy project is open, Orchard Beach’s $114 million pavilion is largely reopened with some concessions opening later, and purpose-built UTVs have been introduced for on‑sand emergency response.
- Memorial Day weekend programming will bring parades and street closures across the city and the expanded beach and pool schedules are paired with borough festivals and markets that will shape crowding and transit patterns for visitors and residents.