The city’s Parks Department is being told to “prepare for every scenario” in the face of the lingering coronavirus — including the possibility that beaches will remain closed for the entire summer, a source told The Post.
“I am told they were given orders by OMB [the Office of Management and Budget] and City Hall to plan for scenarios including full and partial closures,” the insider said Tuesday.
Mayor Bill de Blasio warned hours earlier that social-distancing measures could be in effect into August — let alone Memorial Day weekend, when beaches typically open up.
Among the options on the table is a half-measure approach in which some sections of surf and sand would be opened, but competition for those slivers may only exacerbate crowding, the source said.
“If you do that you increase density. I think Parks understands that,” the source said. “Even if you say, ‘Is there a socially distant way of opening beaches?’, I don’t see it.”
Among the other issues is staffing, both with Parks Enforcement Personnel to enforce social-distancing, and lifeguards, the insider said.
“They’re having enormous difficulty hiring lifeguards right now,” the source said, noting that, unlike in typical years, the city is yet to launch its search for lifeguards.
“Even if the mayor wants to open the beaches — which I don’t think he’s going to — they don’t even have the manpower,” the source said.
And even if Hizzoner were inclined to green-light some fun in the sun, Gov. Andrew Cuomo could bigfoot him as he’s done so often throughout the crisis by deeming lifeguards non-essential personnel or otherwise overriding the clearance.
“This is another case where the governor may say, ‘The mayor has an opinion but I will have the final say,’” the source mused.
Asked for comment, City Hall pointed to de Blasio’s remarks during a press briefing held earlier Tuesday.
“We’re going to take this very slow and carefully to make sure we get it right.,” de Blasio said in part. “I’m always going to first focus on how do we guarantee the health and safety of New Yorkers and make sure we don’t take our foot off the gas too soon.”
