The Statue of Liberty's been shuttered for over a year thanks to the one-two punch of a lengthy renovation and significant Hurricane Sandy damage, but the end to her solitude is finally in sight: federal funds have been allocated to fix up the island, and officials say Lady Liberty should be open by Memorial Day.
Liberty Island sustained so much damage in October's storm that it was closed off to visitors indefinitely, with officials offering no real time frame for the tourist attraction's return. Luckily, though, the federal government will offer $28 million in relief funds for national parks and other recreation areas that got hit by Sandy, so the island's splintered ferry docks, torn-up walkways and cracked seawall will be getting some much-needed repair. The Statue of Liberty is one of the city's biggest attractions; last month, Senator Chuck Schumer lobbied Washington to help get the site back on its feet post-storm, and hopefully Battery City will be clogged with summer visitors trying to climb up the Lady once more.
