Hurricane Bill sent high waves and riptides cascading toward the city’s coastline last weekend, resulting in the closures – from Friday, August 21 to Sunday, the 23rd – of beaches in Queens, Staten Island and Brooklyn.
Citing a National Weather Service advisory that underscored the dangers that the hurricane posed to swimmers, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation erred on the side of caution and shuttered Rockaway Beach, Coney Island Beach, Manhattan Beach, South Beach, Midland Beach and Wolfe’s Pond Beach on Friday.
In announcing the closures, Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe said, “As weather conditions are changing quickly, it is essential that people not enter the water at closed beaches.” He emphasized that beachgoers “must obey the instructions of lifeguards, Police and other Parks and security personnel.”
Over the weekend, Orchard Beach remained open because, the Parks Department explained, it is the only city beach not facing the Atlantic Ocean. Thus, the Bronx beach did not experience the heavy surf, coastal flooding, erosion and rip currents that the city’s ocean-facing shore points did.
A Parks Department spokesperson said all beaches were reopened on Monday, August 24, with lifeguards instructing swimmers to only venture waist-deep into the water.
The agency would continue monitoring ocean conditions on a day-to-day basis, the spokesperson said.
While the United States Coast Guard Sector New York said monitoring conditions at area beaches is not under their jurisdiction, a spokesperson offered, “It was actually a very quiet weekend” in terms of rescues.
While beach closings in such heat and humidity were not opportune for city residents, the Parks Department’s 63 pools and 650 spray showers remained open over the weekend.
