How fresh is the water quality data?

The water quality dataset is live, with samples from as recent as September 2026 available.

Do I need an API key to use this?

No, this is a keyless MCP. Vinkius handles the connection so you can use it immediately.

What are the EPA safety limits for swimming?

The EPA uses a single-sample advisory level of 235 MPN/100 ml and a 4-week geometric-mean criterion of 291 MPN/100 ml.

Can I find beaches in Manhattan?

There are no beach parcels located in Manhattan according to the beach lookup data.

Does this include data for future waterfront areas?

Yes, the waterfront access capability includes status updates for areas that are currently approved or planned for construction.

Do I need an API key?

No. NYC Open Data serves all public datasets anonymously over its SODA API (data.cityofnewyork.us). This MCP defines no credentials and needs nothing configured.

Do the text filters ignore case or match partial values?

No. The NYC data platform only supports exact-match filters, and this MCP stores beach names three different ways across its tables: the beach map and the water-sample table use UPPERCASE names ("ORCHARD BEACH". the water-sample capability auto-uppercases its input), while the attendance table uses title case ("Orchard Beach", "Wolfe's Pond Beach" with a straight apostrophe). Borough codes on the beach map are the single letters B, Q, R, X (there are no beach parcels under M. Manhattan Beach is in Brooklyn). Use list_beaches to see the exact beach names, and a search capability with no filters to see the exact stored values in each table.

How do I read the enterococci values?

The samples report enterococci in MPN/100 ml. Use the two EPA reference values: 235 MPN/100 ml is the single-sample advisory level and 291 MPN/100 ml the 4-week geometric-mean criterion. A reading above 235 flags the water above the swim advisory; a null enterococci value means the count was below the detection limit (the units_or_notes field says so). top_beaches_water_quality gives each beach's worst reading over the last year.

How fresh is each dataset?

Water samples are live. September 2026 samples are available. The attendance table ends at 2025-10-08, so its capabilities take a season year (2010-2025, default 2025) rather than a rolling window. The WPAA table is a planning registry (statuses like "Approved (to be constructed)"), not a live status feed, and it carries no coordinates.

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Connect Nyc Beaches Waterfront to ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini

Set it up once and it works in ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, and any other client you love. It all runs safely in the background, so you can relax and focus on what really matters. Plan your next trip with live water quality and crowd data.

Ask AI about this Connector

Developed, maintained, and hosted by Vinkius.

MCP VERIFIED · PRODUCTION READY · VINKIUS GUARANTEED

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Works with modern AI clients that support MCP, including ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, and more.

Your AI does the work. We keep it safe and sound.

No other AI tool gives you this. Your workflow runs in the client you already love, your account stays protected, and you decide what the agent can and cannot do. It is the whole reason to make the switch.

Each Connector lives inside our infrastructure, the same place where your workflow runs. The three things below are already part of it, working quietly in the background so you never have to think about them. Nothing to add, nothing to set up, nothing to worry about.

How Vinkius works: one connection, every tool, in any AI

V8 Isolate01

Each Connector runs inside its own sealed environment.

Each Connector runs inside its own sealed V8 runtime — no access to your files, your system, or other servers. A Connector never sees past its own request.

Kill Switch02

One switch stops every agent. Instantly.

One action deactivates every Connector, revokes every token, and ends every session at once. AI Governance keeps the record.

FinOps per User03

Spending limits that pause instead of surprise.

Every user keeps their own connections and credentials, isolated from everyone else. Anything that would cross your spending limit is held for your approval, not billed.

Three controls, built into the layer your AI connects through.

Complete set · 7 capabilities

The complete NYC Open Data capability set.

These are the exact actions your AI can choose when you ask it to work with NYC Open Data.

Capability set01 / 02

01-04

4 capabilities in this set.

Part of 7 available through NYC Open Data.

01
Count water samples
This capability provides a quick count of water samples within a specific window. Use it to see how many data points are available before running a more detailed search.
02
List beaches
This capability lists the nine named public NYC beaches and their respective boroughs. It is the best way to get the exact beach names required for other capabilities in this MCP.
03
List waterfront areas
This capability retrieves information on approximately 78 designated waterfront public access areas. It includes details on construction status, maintaining parties, and planned square footage.
04
Search beach attendance
This capability searches seasonal daily visitor counts for NYC beaches. It covers attendance data from 2010 through the 2025 season.

Capability set02 / 02

05-07

3 capabilities in this set.

Part of 7 available through NYC Open Data.

05
Search water samples
This capability pulls live enterococci water quality samples for specific beaches. You can check recent readings against EPA advisory levels to see if the water is swimmable.
06
Top beaches attendance
This capability ranks NYC beaches by their total visitor counts for a given season. It helps you identify the most popular locations through the 2025 season.
07
Top beaches water quality
This capability ranks beaches based on their water quality over the last year. It highlights the worst enterococci readings to show which locations have exceeded EPA advisory limits.

One connector, every AI

NYC Open Data works with the most popular AI clients.

These are the most popular clients, each with a step-by-step guide: one link, set up once, with governance and visibility built in. And because everything runs on the MCP standard, the same connection also works in any other compatible client — nothing to rebuild.

Building your own app? The connector is yours to use.

You don't need a client to put NYC Open Data to work: the same hosted connection plugs into your own applications and agent code, with the same governance on every request. Build with it, chat with it — one connection for both.

Connect your client

One URL. Every client.

Activate the Connector, copy your link, and paste it into the client you already use. 7 capabilities arrive ready to run.

Preview access · not provider authentication

The vk_preview_* token belongs to Vinkius preview infrastructure. It lets Claude discover and display the capabilities of NYC Open Data, so you can see the experience inside your AI.

It does not authenticate your account with NYC Open Data. Actions requiring credentials or live account data may not run until you activate the Connector and authorize the service.

NYC Open Data Connector

You're all set. Choose your MCP client and follow the setup instructions.

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_NVsyXm1207L7pockHLBhoj2QG25ObOaJDQw85FNS/mcp

Claude Desktop

Follow the steps below to connect in seconds.

1In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Connectors.
2Click “Add custom connector” and paste the connector link above as the remote MCP server URL.
3Click Add and start a new chat — NYC Open Data capabilities are ready to use.

Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "nyc-beaches-waterfront-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_NVsyXm1207L7pockHLBhoj2QG25ObOaJDQw85FNS/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Claude
ChatGPT
Cursor
VS Code
Windsurf
Claude Code
JetBrains
Cline

Step-by-step instructions for each client are in the guide. How to connect

Guided setup for Claude? How to give Claude access to NYC Open Data

See all the AI clients this connector works with ↑

Who it's for

Built for the work NYC Open Data owners hand off.

This MCP is built for anyone needing reliable, real-time coastal data for New York City.

01
Trip Planners
They ask the AI to find safe, low-crowd beaches for weekend outings.
02
Urban Researchers
They use the capability to track waterfront access developments and public space availability.
03
Environmental Analysts
They query water quality samples to monitor bacteria levels against federal guidelines.

FAQ

Questions NYC Open Data owners ask.

01
How fresh is the water quality data?
The water quality dataset is live, with samples from as recent as September 2026 available.
02
Do I need an API key to use this?
No, this is a keyless MCP. Vinkius handles the connection so you can use it immediately.
03
What are the EPA safety limits for swimming?
The EPA uses a single-sample advisory level of 235 MPN/100 ml and a 4-week geometric-mean criterion of 291 MPN/100 ml.
04
Can I find beaches in Manhattan?
There are no beach parcels located in Manhattan according to the beach lookup data.
05
Does this include data for future waterfront areas?
Yes, the waterfront access capability includes status updates for areas that are currently approved or planned for construction.
06
Do I need an API key?
No. NYC Open Data serves all public datasets anonymously over its SODA API (data.cityofnewyork.us). This MCP defines no credentials and needs nothing configured.
07
Do the text filters ignore case or match partial values?
No. The NYC data platform only supports exact-match filters, and this MCP stores beach names three different ways across its tables: the beach map and the water-sample table use UPPERCASE names ("ORCHARD BEACH". the water-sample capability auto-uppercases its input), while the attendance table uses title case ("Orchard Beach", "Wolfe's Pond Beach" with a straight apostrophe). Borough codes on the beach map are the single letters B, Q, R, X (there are no beach parcels under M. Manhattan Beach is in Brooklyn). Use list_beaches to see the exact beach names, and a search capability with no filters to see the exact stored values in each table.
08
How do I read the enterococci values?
The samples report enterococci in MPN/100 ml. Use the two EPA reference values: 235 MPN/100 ml is the single-sample advisory level and 291 MPN/100 ml the 4-week geometric-mean criterion. A reading above 235 flags the water above the swim advisory; a null enterococci value means the count was below the detection limit (the units_or_notes field says so). top_beaches_water_quality gives each beach's worst reading over the last year.
09
How fresh is each dataset?
Water samples are live. September 2026 samples are available. The attendance table ends at 2025-10-08, so its capabilities take a season year (2010-2025, default 2025) rather than a rolling window. The WPAA table is a planning registry (statuses like "Approved (to be constructed)"), not a live status feed, and it carries no coordinates.

Explore

More in Environment

Connect NYC Open Data to Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT & more

Each Connector runs inside its own sealed environment.

One switch stops every agent. Instantly.

Spending limits that pause instead of surprise.

Count water samples

List beaches

List waterfront areas

Search beach attendance

Search water samples

Top beaches attendance

Top beaches water quality

Building your own app? The connector is yours to use.

NYC Open Data Connector

Claude Desktop

Trip Planners

Urban Researchers

Environmental Analysts

How fresh is the water quality data?

Do I need an API key to use this?

What are the EPA safety limits for swimming?

Can I find beaches in Manhattan?

Does this include data for future waterfront areas?

Do I need an API key?

Do the text filters ignore case or match partial values?

How do I read the enterococci values?

How fresh is each dataset?

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