By Gina Martinez
New York City beaches and outdoor public pools are usually closed after Labor Day, but a new proposed legislation could extend availability for an extra month.
The legislation was proposed by Councilman Mark Levine (D-Manhattan), chair of the Parks Committee in January. The bill proposes expanding the season until the first day of school and on weekends throughout the end of September.
Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver told city council members that the expansion of the season “is something were seriously taking a look at” But the expansion wont be cheap. Deputy Commissioner Liam Kavanagh said “Depending on the scale, it could cost as much as $1 million a week.”
Many lifeguards are college students and return to school in the beginning of September raising fears that beaches and pools will be short staffed. Silver acknowledged this, saying “We want to make sure we have the personnel. A lot of our lifeguards go back to school, and we just want to make sure we have full coverage.”
Felix Perez, 25, has been a lifeguard for the NYC parks department for five years. He thinks as far as beaches are concerned, the extension isn’t a good idea.
“I don’t think it will be a good idea to extend the season for another month after Labor Day because by Labor Day the weather has already changed, its not as hot as it is in the previous months,” Perez said. “You start to see that there are less people coming out to the beaches. A lot of the lifeguards are students and by the end of August they go back to school leaving some faculties without the numbers of lifeguards they might need to operate at full service. Also lifeguards get tired by the end of the season, our job is full of pressure, were constantly looking out making sure nobody dies.”
But Lance Johnson, Long Island resident, agrees with the proposed bill. He said “people are going to be at the beach and pools past Labor Day regardless, so we need lifeguards to protect them. Its a matter of public safety.”
Local outdoor Queens pools like Astoria and Windmuller pool among others would be effected by this decisions and of course Rockaway Beach in Far Rockaway, Queens. No final decision has been made by the Parks Department yet, a decision should be reached before the season starts.
