City's Beaches Ready To Go After Sandy Repairs
The city's beaches, ravaged by Hurricane Sandy, will be back open in time this Memorial Day weekend.
The Parks Department says all of the city's beaches will be open for swimming starting Saturday, even as the temperatures suggest summer is still not here.
Though, there will be some service changes at each beach.
A number of piers are still under construction and won't be open until later this summer. Thousands of volunteers have been working to help repair damage from the storm. The city was also able to take advantage of the nearly $500 million in federal aid designated to help rebuild parks, beaches and other public land. Lifeguards will be on duty daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Labor Day.
Meanwhile, in Coney Island, a ceremonial cutting of the links was held Thursday outside the newly renovated Nathan's. It comes seven months after Hurricane Sandy forced it to close. The summertime staple will have a different look, however. The sidewalk counters on Surf Avenue are now inside. The restaurant also added a new clam bar that will serve oysters for the first time in 30 years.
The storm flooded Nathan's with six feet of water. "From 1916 to when Hurricane Sandy hit, Nathan's never closed. The operation was continuous. So you can imagine how we felt when that horrific event happened," said Nathan's Famous President Wayne Norbitz. The restaurant's long standing hot dog eating contest will go on as planned on July 4.
Also set to open in Coney Island this weekend is the Brooklyn Nets Shop on Stillwell Avenue. "We want to be part of the community. Obviously there are landmark locations with the Wonder Wheel, Nathan's," said Tyrel Kirkham of Brooklyn Nets Shop. The shop, which sells team paraphernalia, will be open seven days a week.
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