April 8

It took the intervention of a United States congressman but a 6-foot-tall chain-link fence that stretched along the entire waterfront at The Battery to corral visitors to the Statue of Liberty has been partially removed, finally exposing the brand-new bulkhead after it was under construction for two years.

US Rep Dan Goldman supported The Battery Conservancy in its efforts to unlock the waterfront, bringing in city officials as well, and as of Friday, the fence was pulled back — at least a bit. The land is city property, but the US Parks Service and its Park Police control the two federal monuments: the statue and Castle Clinton. And they control the process for getting on Liberty Island, which includes airport-level security on the Battery waterfront.

This is the opening as of Friday:

The fence was erected to create a “sterile” environment for people who have already gone through the security process and are now “clean.” This keeps them away from anyone in the park who would hand them weapons after they’ve been screened.

It’s really mind-boggling, but the new solution is considered a victory.

“We do not have the the entire waterfront, but it’s a compromise that at least gives the public the experience of the waterfront,” said Tribecan Paula Recart, president of The Battery Conservancy.

There’s still a big section of the bulkhead fenced off, as well as the giant building used for screening. On top of that, the southern portion of the bulkhead is under construction now as part of the city’s resiliency efforts. And wait, there’s more! The Battery Park City Authority, as part of its resiliency efforts, has the northern section of the park fenced off as well.

Former Conservancy president Warrie Price suggested using Pier A, which has been defunct since the pandemic, as a screening area for the statue, thus liberating the park. That pier has so much space, IMO you could do a food hall for tourists on the top floor and security downstairs. The last tenant there was Peter Poulakakos’ Harbor House, which opened in 2014 and never reopened after the pandemic.

There’s still a big portion of the waterfront bulkhead that is fenced off. The fence is mobile, so in theory it could be moved when the ferries stop. Or…

The new elevated section of park

BPCA construction

BPCA construction