New Yorkers for Parks has for the first time inspected the conditions of all seven beaches run by the city, and summarized the results in an eye-opening report.

The Report Card on Beaches revealed the following problems: significant litter and broken glass on the shorelines, closure of the beach sections due to the chronic lifeguard shortage, closed bathrooms, and broken or damaged water fountains.

In addition, the report rated each beach satisfactory, challenged or unsatisfactory. The results were:

• Midland Beach in Staten Island: Satisfactory
• Manhattan Beach in Brooklyn: Challenged
• Orchard Beach in the Bronx: Challenged
• South Beach in Staten Island: Challenged
• Rockaway Beach in Queens: Challenged
• Coney Island/ Brighton Beach in Brooklyn: Unsatisfactory
• Wolfe's Pond Beach in Staten Island: Unsatisfactory

New Yorkers for Parks also issued a policy paper titled "Raising the Tide: Strategies for New York City Beaches." The paper included these recommendations:

1. Establish a NYC Beach User's Guide on the Web that provides a variety of essential health, safety, and user information drawn from multiple city agencies.
2. Improve lifeguard recruitment by administering training where there is demand and enhancing the transparency of testing.
3. Use and promote storm water management strategies when developing land throughout the city to improve beach water quality.