Back when my dad was in the hospital in late August, he was visited by a friend, who is a board member at the Municipal Arts Society (MAS).

It was just a few days before he died but he and this friend were trying to come up with a good slogan for what I think is the Imagine Coney campaign.

My father, a great copywriter and wordsmith, used to work with this friend back in the 1960’s. He often called on my dad to come up with headlines, copy, and/or names for races horses.

That day in the hospital my dad came up with All Money, No Coney. So I don’t think that was going to work. I’m sure he came up with some others ideas as well. 

Well, today MAS launched this initiative. It sounds very interesting.

On Monday, October 27, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon at Brooklyn Borough Hall, MAS will launch Imagine Coney, an
initiative bringing together a world-class team of designers,
engineers, producers and economists to develop new ideas for Coney
Island – for amusement rides, structures, events and interim activities.

Coney Island was once one of the most astonishing places on earth –
from the minarets and lights of Luna Park to the water chute rides and
freakish sideshows of Dreamland. However, over the last several
decades, it has declined and the area needs revitalization.

The City has taken several critical steps towards that goal. Last
November, it announced a rezoning initiative, which you can view here,
but it will take more than the efforts of the City alone to restore
Coney Island to its greatness. It will require the focus, creativity
and entrepreneurship of New Yorkers and Coney Island fans like you.

The team MAS has brought together will assemble at Brooklyn Borough Hall on Monday, October 27, 9:00 A.M. – 12:00 noon
to listen to presentations from key stakeholders, and then will return
on November 13 & 14 to participate in a “charrette” – an intense
design workshop – to develop new ideas. The team will present their
work publicly on November 17. The aim is to restore Coney Island to be
one of the world’s most exciting and original entertainment and
amusement destinations once again.

But first the team will need your input. In mid-November, the MAS
will be hosting two public workshops with our local partners, as well
as an online “Call for Ideas”. The details of these meetings and the
website will be announced next week.

So stay tuned, and start “Imagining Coney”!

To read more about MAS advocacy on Coney Island, visit www.mas.org/coneyisland