One of the most iconic views from Manhattan of the Statue of Liberty is now blocked by a 6-foot-tall black wire fence.

What You Need To Know

One of the most iconic views from Manhattan of the Statue of Liberty is now blocked by a 6-foot-tall black wire fence

According to the U.S. Park Police, security fencing around the sightseeing cruise boats has taken up the same space at Battery Park since 2004 and is a critical security element needed to protect the Statue of Liberty and its millions of visitors

Paula Recart, the president of the Battery Conservancy, says the fence was only the height of a police barrier before park renovations started in 2023

The U.S. Park Police say the southeastern section of the fence reopens after the boats stop running each afternoon. Recart says she rarely sees this happen

Christine Dimmick has lived in Battery Park City for seven years and is upset about a new, higher fence.

“I walk my dog frequently in this park and we’ve never had a fence like this before,” Dimmick told NY1. “Lady Liberty belongs to all of us in New York and now you’ve got this fence, tourists can’t take pictures. You have to put your arms over it.”  

Paula Recart, the president of the Battery Conservancy, says the fence was only the height of a police barrier before park renovations started in 2023.

“This fence is too tall, too long, and it stays for too many hours,” she said.

Recart was hoping to have a party to celebrate the reopening of the park called “The View is Back” after two and a half years of renovations. That party was canceled shortly after she saw the black fence.

“We didn’t think it was appropriate to invite the community to a party that was called ‘The View is Back,’ if the view is back with a fence in between,” she told NY1. “So we are hoping that we can still keep the party up sometime soon, with the collaboration of all the stakeholders to find an alternative solution.”

According to the U.S. Park Police, security fencing around the sightseeing cruise boats has taken up the same space at Battery Park since 2004 and is a critical security element needed to protect the Statue of Liberty and its millions of visitors.

A spokesperson from the U.S. Park Police wrote in a statement, “removing the security fencing, or even modifying it without very careful consideration, would expose ferry operations to unnecessary risk for the sake of a better view.”

The U.S. Park Police say the southeastern section of the fence reopens after the boats stop running each afternoon.

Recart says she rarely sees this happen.

“I have been here for days at 7 p.m. and it has been entirely closed. I came one day when I saw it open, and honestly, it doesn’t make a big difference. It’s a very small sliver,” she said.

Advocates at a news conference Monday called on the National Park Service to find a way to balance security with the public’s ability to enjoy the park.

Tourists NY1 spoke with had mixed feelings about the fence.

Martin, who is visiting from the Netherlands, said he did not know that the fence was going to be at the park when he came to see the Statue of Liberty.

“Well, it’s not that pretty, and it’s quite hard to get a good look at the statue. And yeah, it’s not really nice,” he said. “I’m lucky that I’m quite tall, so I can put my phone over the fence, But yeah, nope my face and the picture, so that’s bad.”

Meanwhile, Rebecca from Louisiana said it doesn’t bother her that much.

“I can still see in between, and it’s just nice being here. I feel like it’s up for safety reasons, possibly,” she said.

The city’s Parks Department told NY1 in a statement that it remains committed to both public access and safety.

“Reopening as much as possible of the waterfront at The Battery is essential to ensuring that New Yorkers and visitors can access and enjoy one of the city’s most iconic public spaces,” a spokesperson wrote in a statement.

In a contract between Statue Cruises, LLC and the Parks Department, a clause calls for the National Park Service, Parks and Licensee to “agree to cooperate to promptly resolve any conflict between NPS requirements and Parks.”

Statue City Cruises told NY1 that it does not determine security procedures at the park.

Recart says she hopes this clause can lead to a solution.

There are other places in the city that visitors can see the Statue of Liberty for free, including from the Staten Island Ferry. However, if visitors want an unobstructed view from Battery Park, they have to pay to take a Statue City Cruise.