The Ellis Island Bridge Proposal

Ellis Island historically is the site of immigrant entry into the United States. All hopeful immigrants looking for a better life in the United States passed through Ellis Island. Because most of the inhabitants of the United States are immigrates, or decendents of immigrants Ellis Island is a historical site for them. As the chapter explains Ellis Island is a jointly owned by New York and New Jersey and it sits in the harbor where it is 400 meters from the shore of Liberty State Park. After its official closing and period of abandonment it began to be resorted as a National Treasure. In that time frame a bridge was constructed, however it was only used for construction workers and personal only. The question that is posed in this chapter is if the bridge should be accessible to the public?

A REAP study was conducted and constituency groups were formed. The workers in Battery Park and The Circle line were not in favor of the bridge. Their main reason was because of the loss of revenue from tourist. On the contrary, those whom were apart of the Liberty State Park Constituency group had mixed feelings of the bridge. One interviewee whom is a school teacher "thought it was an excellent idea"(pg.86) Their favor of the bridge was mostly due to the increase access to Ellis Island. While workers of Liberty State Park had some concerns about the increase in crowds and what that would do to the environment. " They feared it would create more litter"(pg 86). Others thought that the bridge would just create more traffic as well as an increase in taxes.

Regardless of the feelings of the bridge being accessible to the public the main concern here is money. While some individuals whom were interviewed were concerned with losing money others were concerned with having to pay more in taxes. If Ellis Island is a historical tourist attraction it should then be accessible to the public. And while it is more realistic taking a boat to the island, by having a bridge more individuals would be able to visit the island. With that said, I think that the Ellis Island bridge is a good idea. Because it will give people access to a historical site.