PORTSMOUTH — What was perhaps a record number of swimmers celebrated New Year’s Day 2024 by running into the waters off Island Park Beach on Monday.

The mild weather and the more-tolerable-than-usual water temperature of 46 degrees may have been a factor for the fine turnout. Event organizer John Vitkevich said the bonfire may have played a factor as well.

“We’re gonna raise the temperature by about 50 degrees,” he joked before official lighters Chris Freitas and 12-year-old Michael Lesinski, grandson of Planning Board Administrative Officer Leon Lesinski, ignited the tall pile of pallets, straw and wood that kept divers warm.

Vitkevich said he got permission for 386 pallets in all, which came from Aquidneck Landworks.

He thanked the many volunteers who helped tidy up the beach.

“There were at least 20 people here yesterday wanting to help us out, cleaning up the beach with all the debris from the storm.

This morning, (another) dozen people showed up to clean up,” he said.

One of Monday’s divers was Bill Brown, who ran in wearing a full tuxedo.

Brown said he was taking the plunge in style to “raise awareness about autism.” Last year, he jumped with a group to raise awareness of breast cancer.

He wasn’t concerned whether his outfit would hold up after getting drenched in saltwater

“Everything except the jacket is going in the fire. I gotta save the jacket, thought,” Brown said.

The event served as a fund-raiser for the Island Park Preservation Society, which hosts community events throughout the year such as fireworks at Sunset Cove (formerly Thrive), located further north on Park Avenue.

That restaurant’s owner, Mike MacFarlane, hosted the post-dive party at one of his other Park Avenue dining establishments, Tremblay’s Bar and Grill. There, raffle tickets for items donated by local businesses were sold to raise money for the Society.

“This is the community that we have in Island Park and 02871,” said Vitkevich. “And as I’ve said many times before: 02871 is fun!”