Memorial Day is just 12 weeks away, and state officials are working to get Robert Moses State Park ready for the summer crowds.

Sand will be removed from the state boat channel beneath Ocean Parkway, and will be used to fill in some of the fields that were severely affected by erosion from Superstorm Sandy.

Starting April 1, some 400,000 cubic yards of sand will be pumped onto fields 3 and 4, and areas near the traffic circle and water tower. The sand will be blasted onto the fields through a mile-long pipe.

New York state has allocated $23 million in federal funds to build up the beaches and strengthen the shoreline so that Long Islanders will have a place to plunk down their umbrellas and beach towels this summer.