Memorial Day Weekend serves as the unofficial start of summer, but things were understandably on the quieter side this weekend as New Yorkers faced relatively cool weather, the uncertainty of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and mixed messaging from officials on whether or not they could, and should, be headed to local beaches.
At Rockaway Beach, there was a larger-than-usual NYPD presence on Sunday, and according to photographer Scott Lynch, "an army of Parks Department personnel primed to dissuade rogue swimmers (only surfers were allowed in the water) and close congregating." There was a relatively low turnout because of the weather, so it wasn't much of a problem maintaining social distancing that day.
Gothamist's Jake Offenhartz said there were hundreds of people across the whole of Rockaway Beach, and a lot of cops giving out masks, but agreed that overall it was "not a great beach weekend." Officers there told him that a few people have been given summonses throughout the day; the NYPD confirmed that at least two people were given them for breaking social distancing rules.
Things were similar over at Orchard Beach yesterday. "It was pretty quiet, and everyone was socially distancing for the most part," said photographer Dee Delgado. "Just a small handful gathering in groups." You can see photos from both beaches in the gallery up above.
At Coney Island, there were more signs of life as the day went on, and people filed onto the pier to eat ice cream and socialize with fellow NYers. At least one New Yorker defied the no swimming rules and went in, albeit briefly: Guardian Angels founder Curtis Silwa. He was quoted as saying, “it is my life, I don’t listen to the mayor.”
Currently, NYC beaches remain closed for swimming—meaning no lifeguards on duty—though local residents are permitted to walk or sit on the beaches; besides Coney Island, Rockaway and Orchard, and includes Brighton Beach, Manhattan Beach, and Cedar Grove on Staten Island. The National Park Service beaches at Jacob Riis and Fort Tilden are open for passive recreation but are following city guidelines of barring swimming as well. A 24-year-old drowned at Rockaway Beach on Friday afternoon.
On Saturday, the New York City Council announced a set of guidelines they hope can help to open up city beaches for swimming in the near future. The city noted that the administration is reviewing the council's plan. Mayor Bill de Blasio previously warned that beaches would be fenced off if people don't follow social distancing rules.
Governor Andrew Cuomo has opened state beaches with capacity capped at 50 percent, and Long Island beaches opened last week, but local officials have barred NYC residents from coming to some of them. A Long Beach man was arrested and charged this weekend for allegedly trying to scalp season passes to the Nassau County beach to outsiders on Craigslist.
While things were relatively sleepy at city beaches, the scenes around other parts of the country that have begun to reopen was much different.
