The boardwalk in Long Beach, seen on March 28, has...

The boardwalk in Long Beach, seen on March 28, has been closed for two months. Credit: Newsday / J. Conrad Williams Jr.

Long Beach city officials voted Tuesday night to reopen its boardwalk beginning Thursday morning, with beach access restricted to city residents only.

The 2.2-mile boardwalk, which has been closed for two months amid fears of spreading COVID-19, will be open to everyone daily from dawn until dusk.

Beaches — which will only be available to city residents — will be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends starting Saturday through June 28. They will then be open daily during those hours through Labor Day.

"We have been trying to figure out how are we going to open a boardwalk and beach in a pandemic in a manner that puts the safety of residents first and allow everyone to get back to some sense of normalcy," said John McNally, assistant to the city manager.

Annual beach passes will only be sold to residents, and residents buying daily passes on the boardwalk will be required to show ID. The city will honor any seasonal beach passes purchased by nonresidents earlier this week. The city has set aside 8 to 9 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays for seniors only to buy passes.

“We want everyone to do the right thing. We get it. People are cooped up and punch happy and want to get out,” Long Beach City Council president John Bendo said. “We did everything we can to make this happen. We don’t want the governor to say Long Beach isn’t doing it right and shut us down, so we lose summer altogether.”

Residents are asked to walk on the right side of the boardwalk in both directions. Masks must be worn on the boardwalk and beach ramps when social distancing of 6 feet is not possible.  Signs will be added to the boardwalk to remind people to stay apart.

The city will also limit bike access on the boardwalk for cyclists from sunrise until 10 a.m.

No gatherings on the boardwalk will be allowed, and it will be open for exercise and active use only. Every other bench on the boardwalk will be blocked off. The boardwalk will be patrolled by special summer police officers.

The city is hiring additional staff to clean beach bathrooms. Bathrooms will be limited to two people at a time and spacing lines are being added at each opening.

Beachgoers who don’t live together must stay 6 feet apart, and no groups of more than 10 people will be allowed on the beach at a time. Residents are required to carry masks on the beach, but only worn in case they come in contact with other people and entering and leaving the beach.

No group activities, such as volleyball, will be permitted. Beach showers will be closed.

The city will keep capacity of the beach to 50% and close sections of the beach that reach capacity.

Boardwalk kiosks and concessions will remain open, but only for grab-and-go food and drink.

State Sen. Todd Kaminsky (D-Long Beach) has advocated New York City open its beaches to alleviate the pressure on Long Island. 

He said residents have to maintain proper social distancing to keep the Long Beach boardwalk open.

"Count me as one of the Long Beach residents who feels like a good friend has been missing since the boardwalk closure," Kaminsky said. "But it will be up to all of us to ensure it is used responsibly so that it remains open for the rest of the summer and beyond."

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