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Photos of the Day: Hurricane Sandy Approaches Coney Island

Posted in News, Photo of the Day, Photography, video, tagged Charles Denson, Coney Island, hurricane, Sandy, Sea Gate on October 29, 2012| 4 Comments »

Hurricane Sandy: Waves Crashing at Sea Gate on the western end of Coney Island. Photo © Charles Denson via Coney Island History Project

This morning as Hurricane Sandy moved toward New Jersey and New York City, Charles Denson of the Coney Island History Project snapped these dramatic photos at Sea Gate and Steeplechase Pier in Coney Island. The bulkheads at Sea Gate are already washing out, Denson said.

“History is being written as an extreme weather event continues to unfold, one which will occupy a place in the annals of weather history as one of the most extraordinary to have affected the United States,” said meteorologist Stu Ostro in a Weather Channel blog post. For Coney Island, the crucial time is during tonight’s full moon high tide at 8:22 PM, when a surge of 9 to 10 feet is possible say meteorologists.

Hurricane Sandy: Steeplechase Pier, Coney Island. October 29, 2012. Photo © Charles Denson via Coney Island History Project

Photos of the Day: Sandbagging for Sandy in Coney Island

Posted in amusement park, News, Photo of the Day, Photography, tagged Coney Island, Deno's Wonder Wheel, hurricane, Lola Star, sandbags, Sandy, storm preparations on October 28, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Boutique Owner Lola Star Filling Pink Sandbags as the Storm Blows in. Photo © @Lola_Star_ via twitter

Sandbagging was a popular Sunday pastime on the Coney Island beach and boardwalk in advance of the arrival of mega-storm Sandy. Lola Star boutique owner Dianna Carlin, whose famously fave color is pink, spent the day filling pink sandbags with the help of friends and customers. “Both shops successfully secured with pink sandbags! Now to secure my production/ design studio by the water,” she tweeted. Her neighbors on the Boardwalk, Brooklyn Beach Shop and Tom’s Coney Island, opted for basic black. A double row of white sandbags were placed across the front of Deno’s Wonder Wheel Skee-Ball Arcade.

Sandy Prep: Steve Miller Sandbagging at Brooklyn Beach Shop, Coney Island Boardwalk. Photo © Charles Denson via Coney Island History Project

Lola Star’s adorable pink sandbags and cheerful tweets were a welcome contrast to today’s anxiety-inducing news. This morning, Mayor Bloomberg issued a mandatory evacuation order for Zone A, which includes all of Coney Island, from Sea Gate to Brighton Beach, and other low-lying parts of the City. A significant storm surge is expected on Monday and Tuesday along with possible power outages. Watch the Coney Island Cam to keep an eye on Coney’s beloved Cyclone, Wonder Wheel and Parachute Jump during the storm.

Coney Island’s amusement parks–Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park, Luna Park and Scream Zone–had to end the season one day early to prep for Sandy. Park workers removed Halloween props as well as tables, chairs, garbage cans and canvas. Some of the rides like Luna Park’s Brooklyn Flyer and Deno’s carousel were partially dismantled. Other rides were folded up or secured.

Sandy Prep: Sandbags at Skee-Ball Arcade in Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park. October 27, 2012. Photo by Deno’s Wonder Wheel via flickr

MillionTreesNYC Plants 200 Trees on Coney Island’s Surf Avenue

Posted in News, tagged Coney Island, greening, Hetzi Juniper, MillionTreesNYC, New York City Parks, Parks Department, street tree, Surf Avenue on October 19, 2012| 5 Comments »

Hetzi Juniper Trees on Surf Avenue in front of Luna Park, Coney Island. October 18, 2012. Photo © me-myself-i/Tricia Vita via flickr

Coney Island now has more trees than rides! The greening of Coney Island’s Surf Avenue from Sea Gate to West 5th Street is under way with 200 trees being planted by New York City Parks and Recreation. The trees in the amusement area are Hetzi Junipers and other species west of MCU Park. The tree planting crew started two weeks ago in the west end of Coney Island and worked their way east to the amusement area. This week curbside trees were planted on the south side of Surf Avenue in front of Nathan’s, the Eldorado Bumper Cars, Coney Island USA and Luna Park. Yesterday at a bus stop on the north side of Surf Avenue, the trees were planted adjacent to an empty lot instead of curbside, as seen in the photo below. Just for the record, the ride count in Coney Island is now at 64, according to ATZ’s latest ride census.

Coney Island is one of several New York City neighborhoods slated for block tree planting this fall. The Parks Department selects blocks with few or no trees, planting on both sides of the street. The street tree program is part of MillionTreesNYC, a public-private initiative with the goal of planting and caring for one million new trees across the City’s five boroughs over the next decade. According to the program’s website, they’ve reached 612,625 trees and are counting.