NYC could begin Phase Three on July 6, Mayor de Blasio says

New York City is on track to hit Phase Three of the state’s reopening plan on July 6 — a move that would free up parks, dog runs and sports fields for the summer.

“The data is telling us yes right now,” Mayor de Blasio said Thursday.

“We have to help our young people. We have to make this summer better for them,” he added.

Under Phase Three, basketball, tennis, handball, bocce and volleyball courts would reopen, as well as soccer fields and dog runs.

Dine-in service at restaurants can also resume at reduced capacity as part of Phase Three.

The announcement came a day after the mayor said the Big Apple’s eight public beaches will open for swimming starting July 1.

“Lifeguards ready to go, training is being competed,” de Blasio said. “It’ll be a great day for New York City — another part of our comeback to have our beaches up again.”

The city’s 14 miles of beaches — which includes Orchard Beach in The Bronx; Coney Island and Manhattan Beach in Brooklyn; Rockaway Beach in Queens; and Midland Beach, South Beach, Cedar Grove Beach and Wolfe’s Pond Park Beach on Staten Island — have been open to sun worshippers, but due to coronavirus restrictions swimming has been barred.

New York City remains well below the thresholds to continue reopening — there were 60 hospitalizations for suspected COVID-19 and 329 patients in the ICU as of Thursday.