NEW YORK—The fish, seals, and penguins are ready to be on full public view again at the New York Aquarium on Coney Island. The aquarium is set to partially reopen in spring following extensive damage from Hurricane Sandy.
The Wildlife Conservation Society is planning for full restoration at an estimated cost of $65 million. The aquarium extension, Ocean Wonders: Sharks! is also slated to continue.
The storm surge from Sandy flooded the 14-acre park, and destroyed the facility’s electrical workings, heating and air conditioning, and aquatic life support systems. The exhibits were also damaged.
The facility has been closed since the night of the storm, Oct. 29, 2012.
As it reopens, the public can expect to see the Glover’s Reef, the exhibits in the Main Hall, and the outdoor spaces of Sea Cliff’s—and a fully remodeled Aquatheater with a new sea lion demonstration.
“The New York Aquarium has been an important part of the economic, cultural, educational and scientific community of Brooklyn since 1957,” said Cristián Samper, president and CEO of the Wildlife Conservation Society, in press release.
Exhibits in Main Hall:
- Coral Triangle of Fiji
- Great Lakes of East Africa
- The Flooded Forests of the Amazon
Outdoor Spaces of Sea Cliffs:
- Walrus
- Sea lions
- Harbor seals
- Sea otters
- Penguins
Education programs, like the teen docent program, summer camp for students, and training for educators, will resume on a limited basis.
