Queen’s Pole wants to extend the Big Apple’s beach and pool season by two months.
But the head of the city’s parks department threw cold water on the plan Friday, saying it would be a huge drain on the city’s budget.
The bill, introduced Wednesday by Democratic City Council member Shekhar Krishnan, would allow public beaches and outdoor pools to operate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, from the second Saturday in May to the second Sunday in October, every year. The city is required to maintain this.
Currently, the beach operates with lifeguards on duty from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, from Memorial Day weekend through the Sunday after Labor Day in early September.
The outdoor pool is typically open from late June to early September and is open from 11 AM to 3 PM and 4 PM to 7 PM.
At Friday’s hearing, Krishan proposed the bill as part of a larger plan to cool off New Yorkers, including finding money to build more pools and give people more free swimming lessons. .
“I think this is a matter of choice and an investment that will benefit all New Yorkers,” said Krishan, who chairs the Parks Commission.
But New York City Parks Commissioner Sue Donahue said the plan would pose “an enormous budgetary and operational challenge” for the park.
“We are very proud of our extensive recruitment efforts for lifeguards,” she testified. “However, the stark reality is that we still face a very challenging employment environment, which means that the bill’s proposed expansion of beach and pool seasons and opening hours will not be possible in the foreseeable future. This means that it is unlikely to be realized.”
The Park Service manages 22 miles of beaches and 53 outdoor pools.
The city’s indoor public pools, which are open year-round, are not affected by this law.
