BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Ahead of what is expected to be one of the hottest weeks of the summer, Erie County’s beaches are officially open for the summer season.

“It’s really great that we’re kicking off the summer season at the beach because it’s going to be a really hot week with heat indexes in Buffalo and Erie County into the high 90s and other parts of Western New York in the 100s,” Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said.

Poloncarz spoke at Bennett Beach in Angola, which is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Swimming hours take place from noon to 7 p.m. when lifeguards are on duty. The beach is free to the public.

“Bennett Beach is one of those true great assets that not a lot of people know about when you talk about the full county, but in the Southtowns, especially here in the Evans-Angola area, they know about Bennett Beach because it has one of the largest white sand beaches in all of Lake Erie,” Poloncarz said.

Alcohol is prohibited at the beach. Bennett Beach has new bathroom facilities and a new parking lot.

“We are open seven days a week, we have a full complement of lifeguards here to help us and support the swimming aspect at Bennett Beach,” Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Forestry Troy Schinzel said. “I think this is one of the best beaches in all of Western New York and Erie County; this beach is fantastic. … This is a family-friendly beach.”

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Mark Ludwiczak joined the News 4 team in 2024. He is a veteran journalist with two decades of experience in Buffalo. You can follow him online at @marklud12.

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