Coney Island’s Historic Boardwalk Might Soon Become a NYC Landmark

Coney Island’s historic boardwalk, one of the world’s best-known waterfront promenades, might soon become a scenic landmark. As a testament to the walkway’s cultural and historical significance, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) has voted to place the boardwalk on its calendar of items, the first step in the designation process.

The proposed designation not only protects the boardwalk’s physical presence, configuration and its general parameters, but also the sand underneath it, its light fixtures, railings, comfort stations, and the Steeplechase Pier, according to CurbedNY. The first push to landmark the boardwalk took place in 2014, initiated by local City Council member, Mark Treyger, who argued that the boardwalk should be protected. At the time, however, LPC declined to begin the calendaring process.

The next steps will be to hold a public hearing on the proposed designation, followed by a public meeting during which the designation will be voted upon. The official date has yet to be set, but Crain’s reports that the walkway will likely be designated sometime in the spring or summer. If successfully designated, Coney Island’s boardwalk will join three of Brooklyn’s other scenic landmarks: Prospect Park, Eastern Parkway and Ocean Parkway.

Officially known as the Riegelmann Boardwalk (named after politician Edward J. Riegelmann), Coney Island’s promenade stretches from West 37th Street to Corbin Place. The wooden portion of the walkway, first opened in 1923, with great fanfare. Alongside the Cyclone and Deno’s Wonder Wheel, it’s one of the remaining traces of Coney Island that date back to the entertainment center’s heyday during the early 20th century.

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