New York City's beaches and pools were slated to close for the year on Sunday, but a new bill introduced by City Council Member Shekar Krishnan could extend the swimming season by over a month.
The legislation, known as Introduction 262, would push the season's end to the second Sunday in October and shift the opening date to the second Saturday in May. Daily operating hours for beaches would be extended from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Similarly, indoor pool hours would be adjusted to 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Krishnan stated that the bill is intended to allow residents to enjoy beaches safely as climate change leads to longer summers. "My legislation does just that and will keep the fun times going until October," he said.
While beaches are accessible year-round for activities like walking, swimming is restricted to the in-season period when lifeguards are present. The proposed bill would apply these extended hours and dates to both city beaches and pools.
Introduction 262 is currently with the Committee on Parks and Recreation, with no vote scheduled. The bill has nine co-sponsors and could take effect as early as the next season if passed into law.
This is not the first attempt to extend the season. A similar bill proposed by Council Member Krishnan in 2024 did not advance, with critics from the Parks Department citing concerns over staffing and operational costs that could strain the city budget. The potential financial impact of extending the season remains unclear, though a similar proposal in 2015 estimated costs around $1 million per extra week. The city occasionally adds a week to the season, but Krishnan's bill seeks to make extended seasons a permanent fixture.