Irish Hunger Memorial To Undergo Pricey Repairs

BATTERY PARK CITY, NY — The Battery Park City Authority (BPCA) has announced plans to close the Irish Hunger Memorial for renovations through the rest of 2016.

The half-acre site is to be closed until Spring 2017 for waterproofing measures after a tough winter and lingering issues resulting from Hurricane Sandy inundated its water drainage system. The reported BPCA budget for the refit is $5.3 million, exceeding the memorial's initial cost of $5 million. The memorial faced a slight setback when it had to close less than a year after its opening, to fix those same water drainage and irrigation issues with a $250,000 price tag.

The memorial, which opened to the public in June 2002, is dedicated to the fleeing victims of the Irish Potato Famine of the 19th century. An abandoned Irish cottage is the centerpiece of the memorial and the site also contains dirt, shurbs, and rocks from each of Ireland's 26 counties.