NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — Beachgoers, break out your swimsuits! New York City beaches will be open on Saturday for the summer season after an arbitration panel has reached a decision for the city and lifeguard union that would expand hiring, which City Hall said will ensure beach and pool safety across the five boroughs amid a national lifeguard shortage.
“As we kick off Memorial weekend, the unofficial start of summer, we were able to blow the whistle and give warning that our pools and our beaches will be open,” Mayor Eric Adams said at a press conference on Friday.
Pools will lag behind Saturday’s beach opening and allow swimmers on June 27, and Adams said that the season will end for both on Sept. 8. During their open period, pools and beaches will be open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. seven days a week.
“They are the places that we consider as the French Riviera for those who cannot travel abroad,” Adams said.
The biggest update to lifeguarding regulation in 40 years, the decision will expand the ranks of the current 230 lifeguards on duty. Officials said that over 300 people are currently undergoing training, which they believe will bridge the post-pandemic lifeguard gap.
"As in the rest of the nation, it has been an enormous challenge in New York City to hire lifeguards since the pandemic, and it has been clear for some time that real change was needed to grow our ranks," NYC Parks Commissioner Donoghue said. "This new agreement comes in time to make an impact this year."
Friday’s decision modifies the qualifications of lifeguards assigned to shallow water pools, defined as five feet deep or less, and updates vision requirements to more closely align with state and industry standards.
Now, shallow pool guards do not have to fulfill the timed component of the 300-yard swim trainees must successfully complete, though Donoghue clarified that the swim is still a requirement as are all other components of the 16-week training program.
Starting next year, the city will also use a tiered vision requirement system. Safety standards will still be in place, but will become “more adequate” for guards working at smaller pools while higher vision standards will remain for large pools and beaches.
“With over 50 percent of Americans needing some type of corrective lenses, modernizing the vision requirements helps the city combat the lifeguard shortage,” City Hall said
When asked why no representative from District Council 37, the union representing lifeguards, was at the press conference, Adams stated that “We were bursting with energy to get the message out, and there was not time to get everyone here.”
Donoghue added to the statement and emphasized the union’s involvement, stating, “We have worked hand and hand with the lifeguard union on this, and they’ve been at the table with us every step of the way.”
DC37 did not immediately respond to 1010 WINS/WCBS 880's request for comment.
There are eight official NYC Parks beaches, including Cedar Grove Beach, South Beach, Wolfe's Pond Beach and Midland Beach/Franklin D. Roosevelt Boardwalk in Staten Island; Manhattan Beach and Coney Island/Brighton Beach in Brooklyn; Orchard Beach/Promenade in the Bronx; and Rockaway Beach/Boardwalk in Queens.