New York City is preparing for the official start of the summer beach season, with Brooklyn’s shorelines set to welcome visitors beginning Saturday, May 23. Lifeguards will be stationed at city beaches from 10 a.m. To 6 p.m. Daily, providing supervision through September 13.
The reopening comes as the city experiences unseasonably warm temperatures. Parks department commissioner Tricia Shimamura, who highlighted her personal connection to the area, described the shore as an essential public resource. “Our beaches are an incredible public resource where New Yorkers can find relief in the hottest of summer months,” Shimamura stated. “Let me just say, it’s going to be 90 [degrees] today and it’s only going to get hotter, and this is where you find relief.”
While local amusement attractions like Luna Park and Deno’s Wonder Wheel have been operational since March, the beaches represent the final phase of the seasonal rollout. The department is introducing new utility vehicles (UTVs) specifically designed for lifeguards to navigate the sand and respond to emergencies, a move the commissioner described as a step toward “saving lives.”
Addressing Staffing and Safety
The city has faced challenges with lifeguard shortages in recent years, which have periodically necessitated temporary closures of beach sections. However, the situation saw improvement last year following a new contract with the lifeguard union and increased recruitment. A spokesperson reported that staffing levels reached over 1,000 lifeguards last year, the highest count since 2019, with recruitment numbers up 23 percent from the previous year.
While the exact staffing count for the 2026 season has not yet been finalized, the department plans to continue certifying lifeguards through July. This ongoing recruitment process means the total number of personnel available for the water remains in flux.
Outlook for the Summer
Although the National Weather Service projects a cooler and rainy Memorial Day weekend, broader forecasts suggest a hotter-than-average summer for much of the U.S., including New York. Should temperatures remain elevated throughout the season, the city’s beaches may see high demand from residents seeking relief.
For those visiting the area, officials noted that the peninsula offers a variety of experiences beyond the main Coney Island beach, including the quieter Brighton Beach and the family-oriented Manhattan Beach. As the season progresses, the city’s ability to maintain these resources will likely depend on the success of ongoing lifeguard certifications and the continued coordination between Parks Department staff, the NYPD, and the FDNY to manage the 24-hour operations at Coney Island.
