New York City’s beaches and pools were scheduled to close for the season Sunday, but a City Council proposal could keep them open well into October if approved.
Introduced in January by Council Member Shekar Krishnan, the bill would extend the summer season through the second Sunday in October. It would also expand daily hours to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and shift the official opening date to the second Saturday in May.
The changes would give New Yorkers more than a month of additional beach and pool access, along with four extra hours each day. The current season generally runs from Memorial Day in May through Labor Day in September, with facilities open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Although New York’s beaches remain open year-round for walking, swimming is permitted only during the official season while lifeguards are on duty. Krishnan’s proposal would cover city pools as well, setting indoor pool hours from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
“I introduced legislation to expand beach and pool season. As climate change lengthens our summers, we need to ensure people can enjoy the beach safely,” Krishnan said in a statement Saturday, shortly before the season was set to end.
“My legislation does just that and will keep the fun times going until October,” he added.
Known as Introduction 262, the measure is currently under review by the Committee on Parks and Recreation, with no vote scheduled. It has nine co-sponsors and could take effect as soon as next season if the City Council approves it and it becomes law.
This is not Krishnan’s first effort to lengthen the swimming season. A similar bill he sponsored in 2024 stalled after Parks Department critics warned that additional staffing and operating expenses could place too much pressure on the city budget.
The potential cost of a longer season remains uncertain. During a comparable push in 2015, however, city officials estimated that extending the schedule could cost roughly $1 million for every additional week.
New York already extended this year’s beach season by one week, a change the city makes periodically. Krishnan’s legislation would go further by making longer beach and pool seasons a permanent policy.
