Long Island beaches opening for Memorial Day weekend

Long Islanders can hit the beach next weekend on the unofficial start of the summer season, though it won’t be the usual fun in the sun.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced this week that state beaches can open on Friday, May 22, allowing 50 percent capacity at each beach.

And while beach-goers can stake out their spots on the sand, the concessions will be closed and no group contact, like volleyball and football, will be allowed. Park personnel will monitor behavior of guests to encourage social distancing.

The boardwalk at Jones Beach, which never closed despite other COVID-19 shutdowns, already has markings to keep people at least 6 feet apart.

Other county and town beaches in Nassau and Suffolk will also open next weekend, with similar restrictions.

The opening of state beaches was part of a coordinated plan with New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Delaware, Cuomo said.