Hard Times In Store for Coney Island?
As the future of Coney Island hangs in the balance, they city is talking about taking concrete steps to address one of the pieces it actually controls–the boardwalk. The city is toying around with three options to replace the tropical hard wood that has made up the boardwalk for the last 86years, reports The Post….
As the future of Coney Island hangs in the balance, they city is talking about taking concrete steps to address one of the pieces it actually controls–the boardwalk. The city is toying around with three options to replace the tropical hard wood that has made up the boardwalk for the last 86years, reports The Post. And while it’s considering both plastic and hardwood planks, word is that concrete is the odds-on favorite. “A full concrete boardwalk is the best way to go from a cost-benefit perspective,” said Liam Kavanagh, the first deputy commissioner of the city’s Parks Department. “It lasts 40 years with little maintenance — about twice as long as wood.” The idea isn’t sitting well with some: “Why don’t they just call it a sidewalk, if they’re going to do it in concrete?” said Dennis Thomas of the Coney Island Polar Bear Club. “There’ll be a huge loss of character.” Others though buy the practicality argument. “I’d rather see anything than the boardwalk falling apart,” said Anthony Berlingieri, who owns Beer Island and Shoot the Freak.
Poured Walk [NY Post]
Photo by ecallender
While it’s heartening to find a lively, intelligent discussion about Coney Island, there’s quite a bit of misinformation floating around about Coney’s recent past.
For those who had negative comments or are immune to Coney’s charm, please take a look at CIHP’s public flickr group “Coney Island is Alive and Kicking and Welcomes Visitors in 2009!” http://www.flickr.com/groups/coneyislandisaliveandkicking/pool/
Launched on January 30,we now have over 575 wonderful photos by 85+ accomplished photographers. The purpose of the group is to show the world that contrary to news reports, Coney Island Is NOT closed! All of the images showcase attractions or landmarks that are here to welcome visitors in the 2009 season. We also have photos of people enjoying what Coney Island has to offer–the beach, The Boardwalk, the pier, special events like the Mermaid Parade. Info about the attractions shown often appear as “comments†on each photo’s page. To view as a slide show, click on icon at top right corner of group pool page on flickr.
The Coney Island History Project, founded in 2004, is a not-for-profit organization that aims to increase awareness of Coney Island’s legendary and colorful past and to encourage appreciation of the Coney Island neighborhood of today. You’re invited to visit our free public exhibition center on Surf Ave. under the Cyclone Roller Coaster. We’re open on weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Exhibitions feature historic artifacts, documentary material and an interactive video/photo booth. For news and upcoming free events, sign up for our monthly What’s New In Coney newsletter @ http://www.coneyislandhistory.org
Boardwalk should be made of boards, period. The fact that this one is still in place at all after 80+ years speaks very well of wood; ‘chicken’ had the same brilliant idea I had, to recycle it into cool stuff (unless it’s pressure-treated with toxic stuff like today’s decking), and use the proceeds to build another.
As for CI itself, despite the passion of its fans (like the late Bob Guskind) for its seedy honkytonk “charm,” it is simply not a viable entity unless you make it more family-friendly. Even before the latest round of closings, it was basically a collection of trash-strewn lots with 2 world-class rides (Cyclone and WonderWheel) and a lot of aging stuff no better than any aging midway anywhere…a little depressing, creepy, overpriced, and with inexcusable bathroom facilities. This “vibe” may appeal to moody hipsters, but preserving Coney’s emo-album-cover-ready look does it no favor. What’s stunning to me is that the obvious–building a world-class amusement park around its historic gems, something like Lake Compounce or Hershey Park (NOT all the way to a homogenized corporate monster like DisneyWorld) hasn’t been the simple first order of business. What the hell is the problem with that? Why does everything have to revolve around freakin’ CONDOs? The lack of vision and leadership are staggering.
> “turn it to las vegas by the sea.”
Then bring on the tsunami.
They need to implode the housing projects from west 7th to seagate, build luxury hotels and casinos and turn it to las vegas by the sea.
A new Coney Island that revived and improved upon the old legend would be great. Even when I was a kid in San Diego in the 80s, I had heard of Coney Island and knew it was the original Disneyland.
Nothing quite like the Cyclone and Nathan’s (btw there’s a Nathan’s in Kuwait) – but they have to be enjoyed in that order. One year my colleagues went down there on the first day of summer vacation, ate at Nathan’s, and then rode the Cyclone. Some lawn in Sheepshead Bay got a free infusion of fertilizer soon afterwards (hope it wasn’t wasder’s grandma!).
100 years ago, coney island was bigger than disney world and miami beach combined. they used to put on operas in a 3000 seat venue. It’s one of the most historic areas of this city, where the very concept of entertainment evolved for the whole world. Now it’s reduced to shoddy attractions, a potentially lethal roller coaster, and packs of wild dogs.
Its history needs to be respected but it needs to be modernized with attractions for this century. I want to see an indoor ski/water park, not a mall. Think big!
There is still no amusement park in the world that has the name recognition of Coney Island. The baseball park is very successful.There’s the Cyclone,the aquarium,the boardwalk,and a renovated train station. Tourists from all over the world are discovering Brooklyn. Build a friggin amusement park at Coney already.It would be wildly successful.
THL, our first disagreement in 1,000s of posts!!! Can we possibly survive this set back?
I think that you prove the point Snark and I were making; i.e., that it is understandable how folks like you and wasder, who grew up with memories of CI, still have a place in your hearts for it, versus relative newbies like us who have only seen it in it’s present state.
Agree with the whole post, thl.
Not only would concrete suck visually, it’s harder on the walkers and joggers who use it in the morning.