{"id":1971,"date":"2020-05-23T17:43:33","date_gmt":"2020-05-23T17:43:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/press\/?p=1971"},"modified":"2020-05-23T17:43:33","modified_gmt":"2020-05-23T17:43:33","slug":"new-york-city-council-releases-recommendations-for-opening-nyc-beaches-safely%e2%80%af","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/press\/2020\/05\/23\/1971\/","title":{"rendered":"New York City Council Releases Recommendations for Opening NYC Beaches Safely\u202f"},"content":{"rendered":"

New York\u202f\u2013\u202f<\/strong>New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson and Council Members representing neighborhoods with city beaches released guidelines and recommendations for the\u202fcity to open beaches safely\u202fthis summer.\u202fThe guiding principle is to allow New Yorkers access to city beaches\u202fwhile\u202fproviding\u202ffor\u202fproper social distancing, both at the destination and on the way to and from beaches.\u202f\u202f <\/p>\n

\u201cAccess to city beaches isn\u2019t just a summer fun issue. It is an equity issue and a public health issue. All New Yorkers, not just those wealthy enough to travel out of the city, deserve access to\u202fthe\u202fbeach this summer. It\u2019s going to take\u202fhard work and thoughtful planning, but we need to\u202ffind a way to allow people to cool off at city beaches\u202fand to get to and from waterfront destinations safely.\u202fNew Yorkers have done an amazing job coming together to flatten the curve and stop the spread so far. They deserve clear guidelines on how to safely enjoy city beaches as the summer heat approaches.\u201d\u202fsaid Speaker Corey Johnson.\u202f<\/strong>\u202f <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cNew York City needs to open its beaches in a safe manner. It is critical for our physical and mental well-being. Our multi-faceted plan proposes the necessary steps for us to safely open beaches and practice social distancing to protect beachgoers,\u201d\u202fsaid Council Member Donovan J. Richards, Chair of the Council\u2019s Public Safety Committee.<\/strong>\u202f <\/p>\n

“After months of difficult confinement and having shown they can do their part to stop the spread of COVID-19, New Yorkers absolutely need and deserve an opportunity to safely access city beaches this summer. This can be accomplished with the proper rules and safeguards in place and with social distancing guidelines. Our neighboring states and counties are planning to make this happen for their residents – we can, and we should do the same for ours,”\u202fsaid Minority Leader Steven Matteo.<\/strong>\u202f <\/p>\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t have a situation where the beaches are open to surfers for some remake of Point Break, but non-surfboard equipped New Yorkers must sweat it out,\u201d\u202fsaid Council Member Joe\u202fBorelli.<\/strong>\u202f <\/p>\n

\u201cIt is important that the city takes measures to make our beaches a safe and socially distant experience for New Yorkers. We\u2019ve already seen it in recent weeks – as the weather gets warmer, residents WILL go outside.\u202fI was glad to work closely with Speaker Johnson and my colleagues to develop a plan that will ensure that when people are visiting our public beaches, they are still adhering to health guidelines,\u201d\u202fsaid Council Member Chaim Deutsch.<\/strong>\u202f <\/p>\n

\u201cNew Yorkers need access to their beaches, especially as we all have come together to combat this pandemic. We need to get to the beach in a safe manner, and these guidelines my colleagues and I are proposing will help us do so while keeping in mind the safety of everyone,\u201d\u202fsaid Council Member Mark\u202f<\/strong>Gjonaj<\/strong>.<\/strong>\u202f <\/p>\n

\u201cAs a representative of a community that is disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, it is critical to me that precautions are taken to ensure that beach-goers are informed of all public health guidance, and that there is a clear plan for how to maintain social distancing, so that beaches remain safe open spaces for residents to enjoy. This plan centers on the advice of public health authorities, and the experiences of the diverse community of people who depend on our city’s beaches for language accessibility. I am grateful to Speaker Corey Johnson for his thoughtful\u202fand inclusive leadership, in putting forward a plan that accounts for the needs of beachfront communities, which have been hit particularly hard during the pandemic,\u201d\u202fsaid Council Member Mark\u202f<\/strong>Treyger<\/strong>.<\/strong>\u202f <\/p>\n

\u201cOur beaches play a vital role in supporting the local economy and offer a safe outdoor venue for New Yorkers to get some fresh air and maintain their mental health during this crisis. With the right amount of social distancing and other common-sense measures in place, we can open the beaches safely this summer. I want to thank Speaker Corey Johnson and my colleagues in government for working together to come up with a real plan that works,\u201d\u202fsaid Council Member Eric A. Ulrich.<\/strong>\u202f <\/p>\n

\u201cDisallowing swimming at beaches puts New Yorkers at risk. If the City is going to open our beaches, and parks, we need to do so in a comprehensive manner with the necessary resources they need to operate safely. We also need to ensure that those without equitable access to parks and beaches have alternative options, so that New Yorkers without access to cooling do not fall victim to heat-related illnesses. Thank you to Speaker Johnson for his sensible recommendations that will allow New Yorkers to enjoy this summer safely and help guide our city towards recovery,\u201d said Chair of the Council\u2019s Parks Committee Chair Peter Koo. <\/strong> <\/p>\n

Recommendations:<\/strong>\u202f <\/p>\n