More Lifeguards, Swimming Opportunities On Long Island This Year
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- New York Gov. Andrew this week announced expanded swimming opportunities, and lifeguard coverage, for state pools and beaches along Long Island.
In a news release, Cuomo said the expanded lifeguard coverage will mean more hours in some swim areas, and some swimming spots will open earlier than usual this season.
"With the onset of the first warm days of the season, I have directed that Long Island State Park beaches to provide additional swimming opportunities" Cuomo said in a news release. "Last week we reopened all New York State Parks and beaches and now we are going to ensure that we have additional lifeguard coverage, not only for this coming warm spell but throughout the summer season."
Cuomo approved funding to hire 68 more lifeguards this season – for a total of 520 lifeguards on Long Island. The number is 15 percent higher than last year.
Long Island State Park Director Sue Giuliani said the expanded public safety will mean more opportunities for the public to enjoy the ocean front.
"We'll be hiring additional lifeguards that we wouldn't have been able to hire without this extra funding from the governor," she said. "Also the public will be able to go to additional spots and have more swimming opportunities, and really to enjoy their summer vacations at Long Island State parks."
State parks have come back from damage sustained in Superstorm Sandy faster than some private beaches, Giuliani said.
"Some facilities have not been able to recovery as quickly as we have in state parks, and we just felt that by offering these additional swimming opportunities, we could increase attendance at state parks," she said.
Hiring the 68 additional lifeguards cost about $600,000, Giuliani said.
The beach hours on Long Island this year are as follows:
Robert Moses State Park
Field 2
• Weekend and Holiday Hours - 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. - Open Now
• Daily - 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. beginning June 8
Field 3
• Weekend and Holiday Hours - 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. - Open Now
• Daily 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. and weekends 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. beginning June 22
Field 4 - Expanded
• Weekend and Holiday Hours - 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. - Open Now
• Daily 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. and weekends 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. beginning June 22
Field 5
• Daily 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. - Open Now
• Weekend Hours extend 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. beginning June 22
Jones Beach State Park
Zach's Bay - Expanded
• Weekend and Holiday Hours 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. - Open Now
• Daily 10:00AM - 7:00PM and weekends 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. beginning June 22
Field 1 - Expanded - Did not open last year
• Weekend and Holiday Hours 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. beginning June 22
West End 2 - Expanded - Did not open last year
• Weekend and Holiday Hours 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. beginning June 22
Field 2
• Weekend and Holiday Hours 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. - Open Now
• Daily with expanded times beginning June 22
Field 4/Central Mall
• Weekend and Holidays 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. - Open Now
• Daily 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. with expanded times beginning June 22
Field 6
• Weekends and Holiday Hours 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. - Open Now
• Daily 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. with expanded times beginning June 22
West Bath House Ocean
• Weekends and Holidays 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. - Open Now
• Daily with expanded times beginning June 15
West Bath House Pool
• Daily 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. beginning June 22
East Bath House Ocean
• Weekend Hours and Holiday 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. - Open Now
• Daily with expanded times beginning June 22
Sunken Meadow State Park
• Daily 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. - Open Now
• Weekend and Holiday hours 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. - Open Now
Hither Hills State Park
• Daily 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. with expanded times beginning June 22
Wildwood State Park
• Daily 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. beginning June 22
Heckscher State Park
• East Beach weekends 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. beginning June 22
• West Beach Daily 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. beginning June 22
Orient Beach State Park
• Daily 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. beginning June 22
Montauk Downs State Park Pool
• 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Daily beginning June 22
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