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Read the press release here.

City Beaches Will Stay Open Past Labor Day for First Time in Decades

By Katie Honan | June 23, 2015 9:09pm
 Mayor Bill de Blasio included money in the new budget to keep beaches and pools open past Labor Day. 
Mayor Bill de Blasio included money in the new budget to keep beaches and pools open past Labor Day. 
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DNAinfo/Katie Honan

NEW YORK CITY — Mayor Bill de Blasio's latest $78.5 billion budget includes hundreds of thousands of dollars to keep city beaches open a week after Labor Day, extending the season for the first time in decades. 

The city's eight beaches in the five boroughs are currently open Memorial Day to Labor Day; pools open later in June, but also shutter on Labor Day.

But the season will now be extended an additional week thanks to $687,000 allocated in the budget, according to the mayor's office. 

The money will pay for lifeguards and other workers to watch the water later into September, when it's often still warm enough for the beach. 

Keeping the beaches open was an initiative pushed by City Councilman Mark Levine, who introduced a bill as chairman of the Parks Committee last month.

"Among the highlights in this year’s budget agreement is an extension of the city’s beach season," he said.

"I'm excited that for the first time in recent history, countless New Yorkers will now be able to enjoy our beautiful beaches a week past Labor Day."

A call to the union representing the lifeguards, Local 508, was not immediately returned.