As Beaches Across New York City Open, Adams Administration Shares How City Will Keep New Yorkers Safe
City Announces Tools to Protect New Yorkers Via Air, Land, and Sea
Mayor Adams Announces Programming During Summer Evenings for Youth
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced a comprehensive, multi-agency plan that will protect New Yorkers via air, land, and sea and ensure they enjoy a safe and healthy summer. With the city’s beaches opening for the season today, and heading into summer months, Mayor Adams and officials from across city government briefed New Yorkers on a wide range of public safety efforts including expanded New York City Police Department (NYPD) presence in popular areas, enhanced beach and water patrols, impaired driving and traffic enforcement, heat emergency planning, and expanded programming for youth. These actions reflect a citywide commitment to reduce crime, prevent health emergencies during hot weather, and offer safe recreational opportunities. The city also shared tips for New Yorkers to protect themselves, their families, and their communities this summer.
“We want all New Yorkers to enjoy summer in the greatest city in the world — and we want to make sure that everyone is safe and protected whether they are in the sun, on the beach, on the streets, at home, or at work,” said Mayor Adams. “New York City is a great beach town, but we need everyone to help us stay safe in the surf. That’s why today we are announcing our summer safety plan — an all-out, multi-agency effort to expand beach and water patrols, prepare for heat waves and extreme weather events, provide upstream solutions for our youth, and protect public safety and quality of life across the board.”
“Keeping New Yorkers safe takes teamwork, and this summer, that teamwork is on full display,” said New York City Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Kaz Daughtry. “Our public safety agencies are using every tool we’ve got to protect people — on the ground, in the water, and in the air. It’s another example of how this administration works as one team, with one mission, to deliver real results for New Yorkers.”
Staying Safe Against Quality-of-Life Crimes
As New York City enters the summer months, the NYPD is launching its 2025 summer crime reduction plan. More than 1,500 uniformed officers are being deployed to foot posts in 70 summer deployment zones, covering 57 precincts across all five boroughs and all eight police service areas. These officers will be assigned during evening hours when crime tends to spike, supported by mobile field forces, traffic safety teams, and narcotics units.
To bolster neighborhood presence, the NYPD has redeployed officers from administrative roles and added over 1,200 new police academy graduates since January. On weekends, each summer deployment command will assign a supervisor to monitor 311 complaints and dispatch a dedicated response vehicle to address quality-of-life concerns.
The NYPD’s new Quality of Life Division will also enforce regulations related to noise complaints, illegal mopeds and all-terrain vehicles, parking violations, and other common summer concerns.
Additionally, NYPD assets will be active in the subway, on the water, and in the air. These efforts aim to reduce violence, enhance livability, and ensure every New Yorker can enjoy a safe summer.
Safe Streets: Impaired Driving and Traffic Enforcement
The NYPD will be vigilant in removing impaired drivers from city streets. Officers will be deployed on highways and on local streets with an increased focus on impaired drivers. Simultaneously, the New York City Department of Transportation will increase its anti-impaired driving messaging campaigns to ensure anyone driving on New York City’s streets understands the risks and dangers that driving while impaired poses to themselves and others. The city will also continue efforts to crack down on unregistered vehicles and fraudulent license plates, also known as “ghost cars,” that compromise road safety.
Staying Safe in the Heat
New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) is launching its signature Beat the Heat campaign to help New Yorkers stay safe during extreme heat, the city’s deadliest weather-related hazard. More than 500 New Yorkers die from heat-related causes each year. To protect New Yorkers, the public awareness campaign urges residents to make a plan before temperatures spike: use air conditioning if available, check on vulnerable neighbors, and choose a safe, air-conditioned space to stay cool, whether at home or in a public location, such as a library, mall, or at one of the city’s designated Cooling Centers. A map of open Cooling Centers can be found on the city’s website. To stay informed about the latest weather updates and other emergencies, New Yorkers are encouraged to sign up for Notify NYC, the city’s free emergency notification system by calling 311, visiting the Notify NYC website, or downloading the Notify NYC app to sign up.
The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation’s (NYC Parks) Cool It! NYC map is another tool residents can use to access cooling features available to the public during heat emergencies, including sprinklers, pools, beaches, drinking fountains, and tree coverings.
Water and Beach Safety
New York City public beaches officially open today, for Memorial Day weekend. Mayor Adams announced additional efforts to keep beachgoers safe this year. During beach season, lifeguards are on duty daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Swimming is prohibited when lifeguards are not on duty and in closed sections. Closed sections are marked with signs and/or red flags. NYC Parks lifeguards are also on duty at all New York City outdoor pools, which open for the season beginning Friday, June 27, 2025, and will remain open daily between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM.
Mayor Adams also announced that NYCEM — working alongside NYC Parks, the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), and the NYPD — will coordinate daily beach safety operations across the city’s 14 miles of beaches. This will include enhanced monitoring protocols for shark activity, and aerial drone teams assisting with both surveillance and multi-agency water rescues. Some drones are also capable of dropping personal flotation devices to outdoor swimmers, providing additional rescue capabilities. The NYPD and FDNY further announced the enhanced deployment of boats within New York Harbor to conduct waterside patrols, with specific attention to beaches this summer. These boats perform critical search and rescue operations and assist disabled boaters.
Beachgoers are advised to stay alert to rip currents, follow posted signs and lifeguard instructions, and avoid alcohol while swimming. For real-time beach conditions, enroll in “Beach Notifications” via Notify NYC or go to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s beach advisory site.
Fire Safety
Every year, barbeque grills on residential properties cause more than 1,500 structural fires and 4,200 outdoor fires. Many of these fires occurred when a propane grill was used for the first time after winter storage. New Yorkers should perform a pre-season check for propane barbecue grills and review propane barbecue grilling operations. Additionally, propane and charcoal grills are banned on rooftops and in multi-unit buildings and the use of portable outdoor patio fireplaces, patio hearths, fire pits, and chimneys are strictly prohibited and illegal in New York City.
The improper opening of fire hydrants can waste 1,000 gallons of water per minute or more, causing flooding on city streets and dropping water pressure to dangerously low levels, which can hamper the ability of the FDNY to fight fires safely and quickly. Use “spray caps” to reduce hydrant output to a safe 25 gallons per minute. To obtain a spray cap, an adult with proper identification can go to their local firehouse and request one.
Amateur use of fireworks can lead to devastating burns, other injuries, fires, and even death. For these reasons, the possession and use of any fireworks, without exception, is illegal in New York City. To report illegal use or sales of fireworks, call 311. Residents are encouraged to attend authorized public firework events supervised by the FDNY.
Youth and Community Programming
Finally, Mayor Adams announced that the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development will be expanding youth programs during summer evenings, particularly through the city’s Saturday Night Lights initiative. Nearly 140 sports sites will now operate on both Saturdays and Sundays, including for extended hours until 11:00 PM.
“On land, in the air, or by sea, the men and women of the New York City Police Department will be keeping New Yorkers safe this summer,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. “Crime has been down for seven straight months, and our summer safety plan will build on those successes – flooding our new summer zones with the largest deployment of cops on patrol ever and continuing to address the quality-of-life issues plaguing communities. This is a citywide effort to reduce violence, strengthen enforcement, and ensure every New Yorker feels safe in the months ahead.”
“Each summer, our free public beaches provide millions of people with an opportunity to cool off on hot days, enjoy recreational activities, and relax with family and friends. Beyond the sand and surf, our beaches offer much more to enjoy, including a stunning nature preserve at Rockaway Beach, iconic amusement rides at Coney Island, and a nature center and athletic courts at Orchard Beach,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “As always, we're committed to ensuring that all of our beaches are safe, clean, and inviting destinations, and we’re thrilled to welcome back New Yorkers and visitors from all over the world for another season of summer memories.”
“Although the weather tells a different story, the summer season is underway, and the FDNY is ready for it,” said FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker. “In coordination with our agency partners, the FDNY is prepared to patrol our beaches on land and over water, with our beach gators and our drones. We know the warm weather brings many opportunities for enjoying the outdoors and the water, and our members will be there to make sure that help is available for New Yorkers who need it.”
“This summer, New Yorkers have more options than ever to stay safe and stay cool,” said NYCEM Commissioner Zach Iscol. “Our expanded ‘Beat the Heat with Cool Options’ campaign is making it easier for people to find air-conditioned places across the city, including libraries, older adult centers, museums, and more. We’re also encouraging New Yorkers to think ahead and make a plan. If you have air conditioning, use it. If you don’t, know where you can go, whether that is a public place or a friend’s home with air conditioning. At the same time, New York City Emergency Management is working closely with our agency partners to enhance beach safety through real-time drone support, water rescue coordination, and shoreline monitoring. From neighborhood parks to city beaches, and from cooling centers to coordinated beach safety operations, the City of New York is bringing every resource to bear to protect our residents. Summer in this city should be fun, and with smart planning and teamwork, it can be safe too.”
“Driving under the influence can have tragic outcomes for everyone — for the victims, for the families, for the community, and for those who face life-changing consequences for making a careless choice,” said New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “We all have a role to play to make our streets safer, and that’s why I call on all New Yorkers to not drink and drive over the Memorial Day holiday — and every day.”
“The mayor has consistently emphasized the need for upstream solutions to address gun violence and making New York City the best place to raise a family. By the time a child picks up a gun, it’s often too late. To prevent such tragedies, DYCD has collaborated with our non-profit partners to keep specific community spaces open until 11 PM every day of the week, as a city-wide public safety effort throughout the summer months,” said New York City Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD) Commissioner Keith Howard. “We are committed to ensuring that our community and vulnerable populations have safe spaces for engaging in activities like playing sports, dancing, participating in music, arts, and other enrichment programs.”
“The Bronx is the borough of parks, and our residents should be able to enjoy them in peace,” said Bronx District Attorney Darrel D. Clark. “I am pleased at this concerted effort by Mayor Adams to improve safety at them since for many people the city beaches and green spaces are the only respite they have during the summer. As we enjoy the official kickoff to summer this weekend lets also remember the true meaning of Memorial Day and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.”
“Public safety is our number one priority in City Council District 13, especially during the busy summer months at Orchard Beach,” said New York City Councilmember Kristy Marmorato. “We’ve proactively partnered with the NYPD, Harbor Patrol, and the U.S. Coast Guard to ensure that our waters remain safe and enjoyable for everyone. After identifying individuals who disrupted the quality of life on the water last year, we’re taking clear steps to prevent that from happening again. I’m also proud to share that our office has funded a drone for the NYPD’s 45th Precinct dedicated to Orchard Beach—enhancing efforts to locate missing children, respond to potential drownings, and provide real-time support before lifeguards can intervene. This summer, we’re committed to making Orchard Beach both fun and safe for all.”
