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Visitors viewing Coney Island Icons at the History Projects exhibition center. Photo © Coney Island History Project via flickr

Visitors viewing "Coney Island Icons" at the History Project's exhibition center. Photo © Coney Island History Project via flickr

The History Project’s exhibition center under the Cyclone roller coaster is open on weekends from 1-6 p.m. and admission is free of charge!

The featured exhibition “Coney Island Icons” tells the story of Coney’s four city landmarks: the Cyclone, Wonder Wheel, Parachute Jump and Childs Building on the Boardwalk. Archival and contemporary photos, documents, anecdotes, interviews, souvenirs and artifacts, including a door from a Wonder Wheel car, are on display. The exhibition is curated by Charles Denson, CIHP Executive Director, noted historian and the author of the award-winning book Coney Island: Lost and Found.

The Coney History Projects exhibition center is on Surf Ave under the Cyclone Roller Coaster. Photo © Coney Island History Project via flickr

The Coney History Project's exhibition center is on Surf Ave under the Cyclone Roller Coaster. Photo © Coney Island History Project via flickr

Coney Island History Project, located under the Cyclone Roller Coaster at 824 Surf Ave just east of W 10th Street, Saturday and Sunday, 1-6 pm, Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day

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Coney Island Fireworks Viewed from Jones Walk. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

Coney Island Fireworks Viewed from Jones Walk. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

SEPT 3 UPDATE: On Labor Day Weekend in Coney Island, there will be not just one but two fabulous nights to enjoy free fireworks. The show begins at 9:30 pm on Friday and Sunday night (Sept 4 and 6).

Tonight and every Friday night throughout the summer, Coney Island has a free fireworks show at 9:30 PM. Best viewing is from the Boardwalk or the Wonder Wheel. Please patronize the sponsors of the fireworks:The Cyclone Roller Coaster, Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park, and the Brooklyn Cyclones baseball team. Additional participants in the fireworks include the Aquarium, the CIDC and Councilman Domenic Recchia’s office.

The Brooklyn Cyclones are also sponsoring fireworks on the field in Keyspan Park after every Saturday game in July beginning tomorrow night, July 11!

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In the video, Dick Zigun, founder and artistic director of Coney Island USA and the permanently unelected “Mayor” of Coney, asks YOU to contact your City Councilmembers to deliver the message “Don’t Kill Coney! Fix the Plan!”

“The City came up with an acceptable master plan, but at the same time, a private developer, Thor Equities, came in and purchased most of the property on the south side of Surf Avenue,” Zigun says in the video. “Thor Equities started lobbying and pressuring the city, and suddenly, the plan changed…there are some things in there that are frankly no good, and that’s the plan that’s going to be voted on at the end of July.”

Zigun’s recommendations include moving the 27-story high rises north of Surf Avenue, a change endorsed by the Borough President and Community Board; expanding the acreage for outdoor rides and amusements; and protecting Coney Island’s historic structures instead of creating financial incentives for tearing them down.

“Politicians DO listen to the public. Make some noise; July is the month,” says Zigun, who rallied on the steps of City Hall last month with the grassroots group Save Coney Island.“The future of Coney Island is being decided now. It’s an American treasure; let’s develop it the right way, the good way.”

To find your City Councilmember, type in your street address and borough on the City Council’s About page.

An email blast posted on Coney Island USA’s website urges people to make three phone calls by Monday, July 13, the City Council’s deadline for requests for changes to the City’s plan.

Call #1:
If you want to help save Coney Island, PLEASE CALL your City Council member TODAY (the sooner the better!).

Call #2:
Call your friends. If everyone forwards this to three friends and the chain continues, we can affect change to this plan!

Call #3:
If you REALLY want to Save Coney Island, also call Speaker Christine Quinn and deliver the same message.
Christine Quinn’s legislative office: (212) 788-7210.

PASS THIS ON TO YOUR FRIENDS. WE NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET!

If you are not a New York City resident, ATZ suggests that you phone and leave a comment for Christine Quinn, the Speaker of the City Council. Legislative Office Phone (212) 788-7210. We also recommend calling 311 (1- 212-NEWYORK outside of NYC) and leaving a “Don’t Kill Coney! Fix the Plan” comment for the Mayor.

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Related posts on ATZ…

December 18, 2009: Ciao Coney Island! Will Ruby’s, Shoot the Freak, Astrotower & Other Oldies Survive?

October 9, 2009: A Rare Peek Inside Endangered Old Bank of Coney Island

July 27, 2009: Tall, Skinny & Destined to Kill Coney Island: High Rises on South Side of Surf

June 11, 2009: Coney Island Amusement Advocates Rally for More Acreage for Outdoor Rides