Governor Hochul Announces State Parks to Offer Extended Hours at Swimming Facilities During the Upcoming Extreme Heat

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation will offer extended hours at State swimming facilities during the current heat wave as a way to help New Yorkers beat the heat. The extended hours will begin Thursday and continue through Saturday at select locations. This follows the Governor's announcement yesterday of forecasted dangerous heat and high heat indices throughout the state.

"Extreme heat is forecast for the entire state Thursday through Saturday, with heat indices expected to reach the 100s in some areas," Governor Hochul said. "Visiting our beautiful State beaches, pools and parks is one of the best ways to cool off during this upcoming period of extreme heat, and we will be offering extended hours at sites across New York."

State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said, "There's no better place to be on a hot summer day than one of our great state parks. I'm pleased our state parks are able to offer more time for New York families to cool off during this period of extreme heat."

The following State Park swimming facilities will be open for extended hours:

Long Island

• On Thursday and Friday, all Jones Beach, Robert Moses and Sunken Meadow fields will remain open to swimming for an additional hour until 8:00 PM. Heckscher, Hither Hills, Orient Beach and Wildwood will remain open to swimming for an additional hour until 7:00 PM. Montauk Downs Pool will remain open to swimming for an additional hour until 6:30 PM.
• On Saturday, swimming hours will remain open to swimming as stated above with the addition of Jones Beach Field 1 remaining open to swimming until 8:00 PM and Jones Beach West End 2 remaining open to swimming for an additional hour until 7:00 PM.

Hudson Valley

• Lake Welch State Park: beach hours extended to 7:00 PM
• Rockland Lake State Park: pool hours extended to 6:00 PM
• Lake Taghkanic State Park: pool hours extended to 7:00 PM
• Franklin Delano Roosevelt State Park: pool hours extended to 7:00 PM
• Copake Falls State Park: beach hours extended to 7:00 PM

New York City

• Roberto Clemente State Park: In addition to swimming, sprayground sprinklers and misters will be placed in the park each day starting first thing in the morning
• Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park: Spray wall hours extended 2 hours each day and extended pool hours on Saturday and Sunday
• Gantry Plaza State Park: the park will have sprinklers placed throughout the park each day of the heatwave to provide relief

Capital District

• Saratoga Spa State Park: Extended swimming until 8:00 PM Thursday and Friday
• Minekill State Park: Extended swimming until 8:00 PM Friday
• Thompson's Lake Campground/Thacher State Park: Extended swimming until 7:00 PM Thursday and Friday
• Grafton Lakes State Park: Extended swimming until 7:00 PM Thursday

Central Region

• Green Lakes State Park: Extended swimming until 8:00 PM Thursday and Friday
• Sandy Island Beach: Extended swimming until 8:00 PM Thursday and Friday
• Delta Lake State Park: Extended swimming until 8:00 PM Thursday and Friday
• Gilbert Lake State Park: Extended swimming until 8:00 PM Friday

Western New York

• Fort Niagara State Park: Extended swimming until 7:45 PM Thursday and Friday
• Beaver Island State Park: Extended swimming until 8:00 PM Thursday and Friday
• Allegany State Park (Red House & Quaker): Extended swimming at both beaches until 8:00 PM Thursday and Friday

Finger Lakes Region

• Fair Haven Beach State Park: Extended swimming until 8:00 PM Thursday and Friday
• Taughannock Falls State Park: Extended swimming until 8:00 PM Thursday and Friday
• Robert H. Treman State Park: Extended swimming until 8:00 PM Thursday and Friday
• Buttermilk Falls State Park: Extended swimming until 8:00 PM Thursday and Friday
• Hamlin Beach State Park: Extended swimming until 7:45 PM Thursday and Friday
• Letchworth State Park: Extended swimming until 6:45 PM Thursday and Friday

North Country

• Westcott Beach State Park: Extended swimming until 8:00 PM Thursday and Friday

Swimming may be affected by hazardous weather — severe thunderstorms are possible on Thursday — staffing or changing water conditions. Please check State Parks' website, parks.ny.gov, or call the park directly, to confirm availability.