MAS Expresses Concern Over Coney Island Plans

August 01, 2008 By Jasper Goldman

Last November, the City released its new plan to revitalize Coney Island, and the MAS testified at a subsequent public hearing that it strongly supporting the concept of restoring “America’s Playground” to its rightful place as New York’s premier waterfront amusement and entertainment area.

In April, the City announced a new iteration of the plan (that can be viewed here) that reduced the area set aside for open-air amusements from 16 acres to 9 acres, within the context of an overall “Amusement Area” that would include entertainment-oriented retail, enclosed amusements and hotels. At a public meeting held in June, the MAS expressed concern that the area set aside for open-air amusements might be too small to meet the needs of New Yorkers and create a truly great amusement district. The MAS is continuing to study the City’s proposal.

To read the MAS comments on original draft scope of analysis for the Coney Island Rezoning Project, click here, and to read MAS comments on the revised draft scope, click here.

The writer is Senior Policy Analyst.

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