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One month after the city announced that it would close a portion of Rockaway Beach for the summer, it’s reversed course. AMNY reports that the two-block portion between Beach 96th and Beach 98th streets will once again welcome visitors as of June 30.
According to the NYC Parks Department, there will also be an expanded selection of amenities near the concession stand at Beach 97th Street—they’re adding new cooling stations, a temporary skate ramp, badminton and bocce, and other perks for beachgoers.
“We know how much New Yorkers love the Rockaways, and found a way to make more of the beach available for summer fun,” Parks spokeswoman Crystal Howard said in a statement.
In May, the Parks department announced that a portion of Rockaway between Beach 91st and Beach 102nd streets would close due to the lack of sand, and to protect a dune that was installed after Hurricane Sandy. The section that will reopen doesn’t have the protective dune, and was deemed safe for swimmers. But the department will closely monitor the tides in the area, and swimmers’ ability to use the area will be contingent on whether or not it’s safe to go in the water.