Playland Beach in Rye remains closed into Friday under the order of the Westchester Department of Health (DOH) after follow up bacteria testing. The bacteria found in the water poses a threat to swimmers.
The DOH has already sent out a third water sample with the hopes of being able to open the beach in time for the Labor Day holiday weekend. Those results are expected late on Friday.
On Thursday the DOH cleared the adjacent Rye Town Park Beach to open. It had also been closed.
The DOH said in a statement that “fluctuating bacteria levels in the water is normal, and may change based on rainfall and fluctuation in tides. The closures were the likely result of excessive rainfall, and discharge from storm water drains.”
While rainfall has often been the cause of beach closures in the Mamaroneck basin stretching to the Coveleigh Club in Rye, closing are unusual for Playland Beach and Rye Town Park’s Oakland Beach.
“To the best of anybody’s recollection, its [a health department mandated beach closure] never happened to Rye Town Park,” Rye Town Park Director Russ Gold told MyRye.com earlier in August during its first closure of the season.
The Westchester County Department of Health, Division of Environmental Health, issues permits for all regulated swimming beaches in Westchester County. All permitted beaches must adhere to the NYS Sanitary Code Subpart 6-2 (Bathing Beaches) and the Westchester County Sanitary Code.
Beaches are sampled once a week for enterococcus bacteria. Beaches must meet the water quality standards and monitoring regulations. When levels exceed the state standard, beaches are closed and resampled until samples meet the standard.
Playland is offering fireworks this Friday and Saturday night starting at 8:30pm. On Saturday it also has a Neon Glow Party – dancing, beach games and music, from 6:00pm to 9:00pm at Playland Beach. It is being offered free with admission to the beach and pool.
