Saving Coney Island
JUNE 23, 2007 Listen to this Story
- Coney
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It can't be much of a surprise that a developer has finally bought New York City's Coney Island. It's been a staple of New York City since the turn of the last century, known for its cheap, low-brow and just plain weird collection of games, rides, fried food, and freak shows. Coney Island catered to the middle- and lower- classes, for whom it was just a subway ride away. But that playground is changing drastically. A private equity firm has plans to build a glass-enclosed water park, hi-rise hotels, movie theaters, and chain stores. The landmark Cyclone roller coaster will stay, but developers say everything else must go. We hear from residents and visitors about the Coney Island they remember and the new one they want.
Notes from Editor Kelly McEvers:
This weekend all things eccentric will feel at home at the 25th annual Mermaid Parade in Coney Island, New York. The parade is notorious for thousands of people marching up and down Brooklyn's Surf Avenue dressed -- or half dressed -- as mermaids and other sea creatures.
The street party is a fitting celebration for Coney Island, the land of freak shows and fried food that since the turn of last century has been known as the people's playground: cheap entertainment that's just a subway ride away.
But that playground is changing, drastically. The main amusement park, Astroland, is slated to close at the end of the summer. A private equity firm has been buying up the land and plans to build a new entertainment center with a glass-enclosed water park, hi-rise hotels, movie theaters, and chain stores. The landmark Cyclone roller coaster will stay, but the developer says everything else must go.
Longtime Coney residents say they fear the new plan spells Disney-fication. But they admit part of Coney's charm has been its ability to remake itself over the years.
Producers Ann Heppermann and Kara Oehler take us on a tour of Coney Island in transition.
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