Ivan Sirena said he feels a sense of normalcy, throwing around a football with his son at Rockaway beach.

“Finally the beach is open, things are getting back to normal, no more masks," said Sirena.

As temperature creep into the 90’s, New Yorkers welcomed the first real beach weekend of the summer.

After the Memorial Day weekend wash out, beach goers like Marcelo Dossantos and his friends say there is no other place to be.

“91 degrees today, 91 degrees tomorrow, we couldn’t miss that," said Dossantos.

Unlike last summer, this year there are eased COVID restrictions on the beach.

Masks are no longer required on the sand or boardwalk, unless you are using the restroom.

Lissette Napp got her kids and niece up early to secure a spot near beach 97the street to soak in the sun.

“We had to try and beat the traffic and actually the parking. Parking here is ridiculous. We got here 815 and the parking lot was packed so we try and get here early," said Napp.

Red flags from Beach 93rd to 104th street indicate that stretch is closed for swimming, meaning no life guards are on duty. ​

That did not stop Miranda Ramos, nor did the 60 degree water temperatures. She wasted no time taking her first dip in the ocean this summer.

“I am defiantly going in the water today."

The sun’s strong showing thrilling not just beach goers, but businesses owners in the area too.

Hot temperatures and the crowds that come with them means a boost in revenue.

“If the sun and fun is out people come out cause they want to enjoy it,” said Jimmy Dowd, owner of Boarder Surf Shop at the Beach 97th Street concessions.

A rainy Memorial Day weekend following a shortened beach season last year because of COVID puts more pressure on local businesses to capitalize when crowd flock to the beach.

“We only really have eight or 10 weekends for the whole season so the weekends are really important for us to have sunshine,” explained Dowd.