NYC Memorial Day Weekend 2023: Beach Guide, What's Open & Closed

NEW YORK CITY — New York City's beaches will be open for summery fun this Memorial Day holiday weekend.

But not much else in the city will be.

Beachgoers can officially swim starting Saturday at 10 a.m. as the unofficial start of summer begins, according to the city's parks department.

The city's 14 miles of beaches will have lifeguards on duty daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Sept. 10.

The highs Saturday and Sunday look to be a less-than-ideal 70 degrees, but Memorial Day itself is forecast to be 80 degrees and mostly sunny, according to the National Weather Service.

For beachgoers looking to head to the city's free beaches, here's a quick guide. (And, farther below, New Yorkers who have non-beach plans can scope out what will be open this holiday.

Brighton Beach at Coney Island

Borough: Brooklyn

Address: Ocean Parkway to Corbin Place

Brighton Beach is right next to Brooklyn's Coney Island and often (but not always) draws less of a crowd.

Cedar Grove Beach

Borough: Staten Island

Address: Ebbitts Street and Cedar Grove Avenue

Cedar Grove is New York City's newest beach, a converted oceanfront bungalow colony in Great Kills Park. The Parks Department describes it as "smaller and somewhat more tranquil than its neighbors, Midland Beach and South Beach."

Coney Island and Coney Island Boardwalk

Borough: Brooklyn

Address: West 37th Street to Ocean Parkway

For many outside the city, Coney Island is the New York City beach — and it's not hard to see why. From the famous boardwalk to Luna Park to the New York Aquarium, the beach boasts much more than just sand.

Manhattan Beach

Borough: Brooklyn

Address: Oriental Boulevard, from Ocean Avenue to Mackenzie Street

A family-friendly beach east of Brighton Beach attracts locals looking for a calmer experience.

Parking is available for $7 from Monday through Friday and $22 on weekends and holidays.

Midland Beach

Borough: Staten Island

Address: Fort Wadsworth to Miller Field, Midland Beach

Verrazzano Bridge views define this beach, which also offers a scenic trail for biking, a boardwalk and Ocean Breeze Fishing Pier, one of the city's most popular.

Orchard Beach

Borough: Bronx

Address: Long Island Sound in Pelham Bay Park

Orchard Beach is The Bronx's only public beach, proclaimed "The Riviera of New York" when it was created in the 1930s, according to the Parks Department.

Parking is available for $8 from Monday through Friday for cars and vans and $10 on weekends and holidays. A senior citizen discount is available for weekdays.

Rockaway Beach

Borough: Brooklyn

Address: Beach 9th Street to Beach 149th Street on Far Rockaway

The beach so tied to New York City summers that the Ramones have a song about it. Like last summer, beachgoers will have to contend with some closures from a $336 million resiliency project. But the good news is they'll be less extensive — 10 to 15 blocks on a rolling basis moving west from Beach 116 and east from Beach 143. Click here for more information.

South Beach

Borough: Staten Island

Address: Fort Wadsworth to Miller Field

Located on New York Bay, South Beach also boasts a view of the Verrazzano Bridge. Be sure to check out the beach's Fountain of Dolphins.

Wolfe's Pond Beach

Borough: Staten Island

Address: Raritan Bay and Prince's Bay, Holton to Cornelia Avenues

Wolfe's Pond Park is the city's "best-kept secret," at least according to the Parks Department. It offers a small, calm and secluded beach.

To aid you in your long weekend plans beyond the aquatic, here's a look at what's open and closed for Memorial Day in New York City.

Government Buildings

• New York City public schools are closed.
• City, state and federal government buildings, including courts and post offices, are closed.
• Mail will not be delivered.
• Most banks will be closed.
• Libraries will be closed. New York Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library branches will be closed Saturday through Monday.

Transportation

• New York City subways, buses and the Staten Island Railway will run on a Sunday schedule.
• The Long Island Rail Road will also run on a Sunday schedule. Saturday will have a normal schedule. Sunday's service will be a Saturday schedule.
• The Metro-North Railroad will run a Sunday schedule on Monday and run extra trains from Grand Central Terminal on Friday.
• Click here for more detailed scheduled changes.

Parking

• Alternate side parking rules will be suspended.

Trash pickup

• Garbage, recycling and organics collection will not occur on Monday, May 29. There will also be no street cleaning.
• Residents whose usual trash and composting pickup day is Monday should put them on the curb Sunday evening. Those who receive Monday recycling collection should put their material to the curb that evening for collection starting Tuesday.