L.I. Beaches, Parks To Be Ready In Time For Summer

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) - Months after superstorm Sandy devastated much of Long Island, state officials announced all state parks will open in time for Memorial Day weekend.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation announced Saturday that while all the state parks and beaches on Long Island will be open for the unofficial kick-off to summer, some still damaged by Sandy by not be fully accessible.

In all, the state estimates that beaches and inland parks on Long Island suffered nearly $100 million in damage from the storm.

Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey told Newsday the popular summertime venue at Jones Beach was completely enveloped by flooding from the storm but will be repaired and opened by late May.

Harvey says some destinations like Robert Moses and Orient Beach are closed until access roads are repaired.

The agency says as much as 600,000 cubic yards of sand could also be moved to beaches eroded by the storm by the holiday weekend.

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