With the start of swimming season, city beaches in New York were bustling with activity as residents flocked to the shore for some fun in the sun. Despite a shortage of lifeguards at some beaches, beach-goers enjoyed various water activities and basked in the warm weather.
New York City’s eight public beaches, including Coney Island, welcomed thousands of visitors on the first day of swimming season. Swimmers and sunbathers alike took advantage of the warm weather, with many expressing their excitement for the unofficial start of summer. Among those enjoying the beach was Vadim, a small business owner from Prospect Lefferts Garden who loves playing beach volleyball.
While the majority of beach-goers were focused on soaking up the sun and enjoying the ocean, some couldn’t help but think about the shark sightings that occurred at the same beaches last year. Jay Duran, a 35-year-old technician from North Jersey, was cooling off in the water with his partner, Savannah Duran, when he jokingly suggested that the lack of lifeguards might be due to a fear of sharks.
Despite some concerns about sharks, beach-goers like Coney Island local Yanni Bocharov remained unfazed by the possibility of encountering one in the ocean. He pointed out that the odds of running into a shark are slim compared to winning the lottery.
City officials have acknowledged the shortage of lifeguards at some beaches, with only 260 out of the necessary 600 hired for this summer season. As a result, portions of Orchard Beach in the Bronx, Coney Island and Manhattan beaches in Brooklyn, Rockaway Beach in Queens, and Midland, South, Cedar Grove, and Wolfe’s Pond beaches on Staten Island remain unguarded for now.
In an effort to address this shortage, the city has announced that it is slightly lowering its qualifications for lifeguards at kiddie pools. This move comes as New York City continues to struggle with staffing water rescuers during the busy summer season. The beaches will remain open until September 8th, while the city’s 79 outdoor pools are set to open on June 27th.
