With great weather expected for Memorial Day weekend, the Parks Department kicked off the summer beach season at Coney Island Thursday morning.
The beach has seen many improvements over the past few years, including performance spaces, new restrooms, volleyball courts and playgrounds.
“It’s safe. It’s clean. It’s exciting. And it’s nearby, for most everyone living in the region; it really is,” said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. “And it’s original. All those others amusement areas are manufactured. This isn’t manufactured. This is Brooklyn ambience at its best.”
“We’ve spent a lot of time recruiting lifeguards, and we’re going to a whole bunch of lifeguards on duty this weekend,” said Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe. “And we’ve got big improvements at many of the beaches, and every beach there is something fun going on.”
But, this season could also be the last for Astroland, if plans go through for a new amusement park.
One local elected official says that may not happen, as the city and developer wrangle over a proposed rezoning for the area.
“If we are not ready to move forward on the Astroland piece, I really am working hard to see that Astroland stays open until it’s ready to be developed,” said City Councilman Domenic Recchia.
“I’d like to keep my employees employed, some of them have been there for 20 years or more,” said Carol Albert, the co-owner of Astroland. “We love it, there’s no way around it.”
The $2 billion project would include an indoor waterpark, luxury hotel, and shops.
“It does look a little depressing when you walk around the rest of Coney Island and see some of the businesses boarded up, but that’s all the process of change, and Coney Island will change and hopefully for the better,” said Deno’s Wonder Wheel co-owner Dennis Vourderis.
City beaches officially open when lifeguards arrive on Saturday. The beaches will remain open until Labor Day
