Coney Island Boardwalk

Concrete Boardwalk strip OKd for Coney Island by city officials

The third time was the charm for city officials who got the nod from a local panel to add concrete to the Coney Island Boardwalk - but not without a fight.

The 5-to-1 vote by Community Board 13's parks committee came after a raucous meeting where opponents brandished signs and "Boardwalk Not Sidewalk" T-shirts and complained about everything from the glare of the sun off the concrete to its smell.

The city Parks Department scrapped two all- or part-concrete plans after a previous outcry and came up with a new plan that has a 12-foot strip of concrete down the middle with 19 feet of imitation wood on either side.

"We shrunk that down pretty much as far as we think we can shrink it," said Brooklyn Parks Chief of Staff Marty Maher, who said the concrete lane is needed so that city vehicles can drive on the Boardwalk without wrecking its surface.

"There has to be a little bit of reality factored in," Maher said.

That didn't satisfy concrete-hating critics.

"These slabs are hideous," said Brighton Beach activist Ida Sanoff. "They make you dizzy when you look down them. They make baby carriages and walkers and strollers and wheelchairs shake, rattle and roll."

Opponents charged that city vehicles make unnecessary trips on the strip and that sections that have been paved with concrete under a test program are already cracked.

"There should be no concrete on the Boardwalk," said Brighton Beach resident Bruni Figueroa.

"All of the slabs in the finished section, all of them have cracks, each and every one of them and the cracks are [getting] bigger," Figueroa said. She added city vehicles "are racing up and down the Boardwalk and since the concrete has been put in, they're going even faster."

But most committee members opted to accept the compromise.

"Everything is potentially a problem. There are problems with concrete. There are problems with wood," said Board 13 member Alan Podhaizer. "But right now the Boardwalk is a disaster....Something has to be done now."

The $7 million project stretches from Brighton 15th St. to Coney Island Ave. and is set to be completed in 2013, but officials eventually plan to use the design as a model to rebuild most of the fabled, but decaying, Boardwalk.

May 7: Coney Island Boardwalk Trash Can Art Contest « Amusing the ...

Calling Picassos of all ages! On Saturday at 10 am, you’re invited to create trash can art that will be displayed on Coney Island’s world-famous Boardwalk all season long. The Parks Department provides the barrels and painting supplies for the 5th annual Boardwalk Barrels of Fun , you supply the talent.

On flickr , ATZ found almost 200 photos of Boardwalk trash can art from past seasons, including abstracts, seascapes, and carnival-themed art. The above composite by Coney Island photographer Bruce Handy shows the three sides of a striking Cyclone, Wonder Wheel and mermaid-themed barrel from 2008.

To get an early start on your masterpiece, register in advance by phoning 718-965-8917. You may also register at the event, which begins at 10 am on the Coney Island Boardwalk between W. 10th and W 12th Street. Judging starts at 12 noon and awards are presented at 1 pm.

The free event is sponsored by New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement & Kiddie Park, Coney Island Development Corporation, New York Aquarium, Brooklyn Cyclones, Luna Park & Scream Zone.

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