Rockaway beachgoers remain confused by closures, absence of lifeguards
Two large sections of the Queens beach remained officially shuttered Sunday due to a sand replenishment program by the Army Corps of Engineers to repair damage from Hurricane Sandy.
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Sunday, June 29, 2014
EFF BACHNER/FOR NEW YORK DAILY NEWSSwimmers were confused by which sections were open.
The Rockaway beach closure chaos continues.
Two large sections of the Queens beach remained officially shuttered Sunday due to a sand replenishment program by the Army Corps of Engineers to repair damage from Hurricane Sandy.
The closed stretches covered some of the most popular sand spots on the public beach, from between Beach 61st to Beach 83rd Sts. and from Beach 109th to Beach 115th Sts., according to the city Parks Dept.
"Our merchants need the business and certainly concessions on the boardwalk are suffering," said Jonathan Gaska, the district manager of the Community Board 14, which covers the area.
The sudden weekend closures came with little notice from the city and left local sunbathers and swimmers confused.
"I thought [the red flags] meant that lifeguards would be around," said Elizabeth Cruz, 26, who was at 106th Beach St. with her friend and his two young nephews.
"I didn't know what the red flags meant," added Michelle Garramony, 39, who nearby with her 6 year old son. "I just wanted to find a part of the beach with a lifeguard and I feel safe with that."
Others simply ignored the lack of lifeguards at the shuttered areas.
"I'm making sure my daughter and my niece don't go too far in," said Ginarie Lopez, 44, who was lying on a towel at Beach 102nd St.
"I told them they can't go in above their knees. Because I know there's no lifeguard here. I need to really watch them."
A Parks Dept. official maintained that beachgoers were cautioned to stay away from the closed areas.
The sand replenishment project, which includes massive pipes and piles of sand left by construction crews, is expected be completed in the next few days, according to a union official representing parks workers.
The city traditionally does not have lifeguards covering the entire 5-mile stretch. But the closures this weekend hit the most popular and accessible spots with bathrooms.
That's hurt some local vendors.
“Before the pipes it was much better,” said vendor Berenice Gonzalez-Garcia, 29, who sells ice pops at beach 97th St. "This year so far it's been not that good.”
With additional reporting by Lisa Colangelo
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