We're almost to Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer, and Southern Tier residents have a reason to get out and about this long weekend with parks and beaches reopening in Broome County.

County Executive Jason Garnar says the county's nine parks were a popular destination last year during the height of the pandemic. More than 2 million people take advantage of the park system during a typical season.

Garnar says between the variety of locations and the activities available, Broome County's parks are some of the best around.

"Broome County I believe has some of the best parks in the nation, Dorchester right here, its an absolutely beautiful park, but all of our nine parks are very beautiful, a lot of things going on in the parks and its great. You take your kids out, your family out boating, you can go hiking, you can run, you can bike out here, you can swim out here," said Garnar.

Parks are open throughout the summer from 8 a.m. to dusk and beaches are open from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.