SHEEPSHEAD BAY'S ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS BLOG

Activists were displeased when the Parks Department decided to replace the wooden boardwalk on Coney Island with a cement and plastic one. Now, six months after Superstorm Sandy battered our shores, the New York Post is reporting that residents and business owners are complaining that sand is accumulating on the new boardwalk.

The barrage of sand upon the historic promenade has been so terrible that the city has been forced to assign extra workers to keep shoveling it back on to the beach. Boardwalk preservationists are blaming the new cement base for all the extra sand.

“With cement, there’s nowhere for the sand to fall through. There’s no doubt the new surfaces are causing the sand to pile up like never before…This is what you get when the city decides to make changes without doing a proper environmental review,” Todd Dobrin, president of the Friends of the Boardwalk and a candidate for City Councilman Domenic Recchia’s seat in the 47th District, told the Post.

Residents, including Maureen Masterson, 32, were also angry. While trying to maneuver her two-year-old daughter’s stroller through obstructive piles of sand, the Bensonhurst mother expressed negativity over the situation.

“This is horrible. It’s like Sandy never left,” Masterson told the Post.

The encroaching sand isn’t just bad for people trying to walk on the boardwalk. As sand accumulates, it starts blowing in people’s faces, which the city has been vigorously trying to prevent by wetting the sand down.

Local business owner Dennis Vourderis, co-owner of Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park, told the Post that the sand has never been worse. It is “even piling up in the amusement district — which still maintains a wooden boardwalk,” he said, blaming the extra sand on Sandy “pushing it closer to the boardwalk and making it ‘finer’ so it blows more freely.”

“This is the worst we’ve seen it,” said Vourderis, who recently put up netting outside Deno’s to block sand from damaging his rides’ motor systems. “We have to shovel all week just to be ready for the weekend.”

For its part, the Parks Department is blaming Mother Nature and isn’t accepting the idea that the new boardwalk has anything to do with all the extra sand.

“Sand will accumulate on a boardwalk without regard to the decking or the foundation,” the Post reported Parks Department spokeswoman Meghan Lalor as saying.

Screenshot of BCTV host Alyonka Larionov from “BCTV – Brighton Beach” by Ali Hashemi. Source: Vimeo

If you have visited the brand-spanking new Barclays Center this year, you might have already seen this cool new tribute to Brighton Beach, which has been playing on Barclays Center Television (BCTV).

The video features the fetching Alyonka Larionov jaunting her way through Brighton Beach, eating authentic pierogis, vamping like Leo DiCaprio on the boardwalk, and sharing drinks with some friendly Moscovians in town to celebrate a friend’s birthday.

Aloynka, who makes mention of her Russian roots, does get a little confused when referencing Brighton Beach Boulevard, which we all know doesn’t exist. Geographic error aside, she leads an otherwise cheerful tour through Brighton Beach, checking out Russian hats, Russian dolls (no, not these Russian Dolls) and Russian candy. She even expounds a little upon that “funny little creature,” Cheburashka.

It’s a fun, snappily-edited and mood-brightening journey though Little Odessa.

Source: Alcmaeonid via Wikimedia Commons

Coney Island’s wooden boardwalk may have seen its last summer. A court decision last week puts the Parks Department one step closer to tearing out the iconic stretch of old-world wooden charm and replace it with the plastic and concrete slabs of progress.

Judge Martin Solomon ruled that the Parks Department may move forward without an environmental review of the effects of plastic and concrete versus wood – a study that opponents were sure would have shown the new materials’ shortcomings and halted the project.

“We are pleased the judge found that the Parks Department complied with the law, thus allowing this project to proceed,” said Katie Kendall of the New York City Law Department, in a statement to the New York Post.

As we’ve previously covered, opponents have charged that replacing the wood would not only ruin the boardwalk’s historic character, but create environmental concerns such as accelerating erosion of the beach. Leading the charge against the boardwalk is Todd Dobrin, president of Friends of the Coney Island Boardwalk, and Rob Burstein, president of the Coney-Brighton Boardwalk Alliance. They published editorials in the New York Daily News that warned of the safety risks of crack forming and heat storing concrete and pushed petitions that over 2,500 people signed.

“We are disappointed in the decision … A moratorium on construction of concrete and plastic boardwalk sections is urgently needed for the safety of the community,” the Coney-Brighton Boardwalk Alliance said in a statement published by the Post.

Source: Jim Henderson via Wikimedia Commons

The iconic parks of Southern Brooklyn damaged by Superstorm Sandy will remain closed for months while the city focuses its resources on higher priority disaster needs according to a report in the New York Daily News.

Parts of the famed Coney Island Boardwalk, nearby Coney playgrounds, the Red Hook Recreation Center, and all of Manhattan Beach park will remain closed indefinitely until clean up crews and repairmen get to them. The clean up and repairs themselves are expected to take months, and there is a possibility that they will be closed through the early part of the coming summer.

While everyone wants to enjoy the use of the public parks and spaces come summer, delays into their restoration is understandable given the priority of addressing the livelihoods of those lost homes, power, and vital services due to Sandy’s relentless destruction. Brooklyn Parks Commissioner Kevin Jeffrey echoed this sentiment to the Daily News, stating that, “There are many issues at the moment that are larger than open space. You’ve got residents without heat or homes and major disruption of services.”

Still, business owners in and around the parks are worried that the delayed restoration will keep the large crowds away, forcing them to cut back on hours and jobs.

“It’s like a trifecta,” Stephanie Rodriguez, a ticker-taker for the Wonder Wheel, told the Daily News. “If we have a dirty beach and boardwalk the beachgoers will go somewhere else. The attraction owners will lose money — then they’ll cut the employees’ hours and we’ll be broke.”

As for Manhattan Beach Park, the Parks Department is hopeful that it will be fully open come summer, but that possibility is still subject to further storm damage assessment.

While the parks are low on the priority list, Jeffrey’s agency has tapped into federal emergency funds to recruit over 300 temporary clean up crew workers who are addressing the damage at Coney, Manhattan Beach, and Red Hook.

Globe-trekking photographer Samm Blake captures the joy and beauty of Coney Island and Brighton Beach in a recent photo essay on her blog, For the Art and Adventure. Reflecting on life, courage, and her own artistic pursuits, Blake shares her beautiful photography and discusses her creative process:

There is a picture of an elderly man, the 5th image down, he was at Brighton Beach with his wife and he started in front of a huge crowd of people. He was amazing. He made me realize, if somebody of his age can dance in front of all those people, I should be able to approach people and ask to take their portrait. I did. I had an amazing time doing so. Nobody turned me down. I probably talked to about 7 different people all up and had some really good long conversations with a few. Once I get the film back from the lab, I will share more.

Check out Samm’s Coney Island/Brighton Beach entry for more photos.

Source: "Friends of the Boardwalk" Facebook Page

Coney Island activist and City Council candidate Todd Dobrin published a dramatic photo yesterday on Facebook showing what he says is one of results of the city’s bungled attempts to care for the Riegelmann Boardwalk, spanning Coney Island and Brighton Beach.

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Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park by the Coney Island boardwalk is set to hold their second annual Pet Day and Costume Contest on Saturday, June 16.

From noon through 7 p.m., all pets will receive a free ride on the park’s Wonder Wheel when escorted by their owner. At 2 p.m., the Coney Island Pet Costume Contest, hosted by the world renowned “BOB,” will take place on the boardwalk. All pets are invited to participate and others may join to watch and enjoy.

Judges of the contest will include Bambi, the Mermaid of Coney Island, Miss Cyclone, Angie Pontani, and Bunny Love, all of whom are proud owners of pets. Pets dressed in the most excellent costumes will certainly be rewarded, as will their owners! First prize includes a season pass for Deno’s Wonder Wheel, and a $150 gift certificate to Petco. The second prize winner will be given day passes to Deno’s Park and a $75 gift certificate to Petco. Finally, the third prize winner will acquire day passes to Deno’s Park and a $25 gift certificate to Petco.

The contest will be followed by a pet march through Wonder Wheel Park.

If you are the happy owner of a pet hurry up and register, for the costume contest is limited to 25 entries, and registration operates on a first-come-first-serve basis. To pre-register or download an application, go to www.wonderwheel.com. Forms can be faxed to (347)- 789-6564, or emailed to jen@thirstygirlproductions.com. Registration will also be opened from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the boardwalk, across from Deno’s Park, near the stage.

All those who register must pay an entrance fee of two cans of cat or dog food. This food will be donated to “The Sean Casey Animal Rescue,” an organization that helps unfortunate animals, and specializes in the rescue, rehabilitation, and placement of reptiles and domestic animals. The organization will place an animal adoption vehicle on 12th Street for the day.

The precise location of the event is at West 12th Street and the Coney Island Boardwalk, in front of the entrance to Deno’s Park. In the case of rain, the event will take place on Sunday, June 17.

Source: Lola Star (lola_star) / Instagram

Resident Morning Mug contributor, Allan Shweky, who happened upon the finished works of barrel brilliance by artists who participated in Saturday’s “Boardwalk Barrels of Fun,” sent us over a few photos of the event.

The beautiful barrels of boardwalk-y brilliance. Photo by Allan Shweky

The annual art competition, hosted by the NYC Parks Department and City Councilman Domenic Recchia, was held this past Saturday along the Riegelmann Boardwalk, between West 10th Street and West 12th Street.

With the goal being to spruce up the boardwalk in time for the summer beach season, artistically-inclined neighborhood denizens braved the rainy weather and used otherwise unsightly trash barrels as canvases, decorating the receptacles with vibrant landscapes, seascapes and carnival-themed art but, more importantly, with all their Coney-loving hearts.

Coney entrepreneur and all-around colorful personality, Lola Star, was on hand for the barrel-painting extravaganza. She had this to say on Twitter, where she also shared a few Instagram pics of the rain-soaked event: “God bless the die hard Coney lovers painting trash cans in the rain! That’s true Coney love!” and, commenting on the “I [Heart] Coney Island” trash barrel, she wrote: “This summer, when you see the dripping paintings on the Coney trash cans, you’ll know it’s a sign of true Coney love!”

Preach it, sis. It’s always so nice to see people making a concerted effort to beautify their community. Good job, everyone.

You can see more of Allan’s photos after the jump.

“Boardwalk Barrels of Fun,” the now-annual festive art competition and family fun event, will be held May 5 on the Riegelmann Boardwalk, between West 10th Street and West 12th Street (in front of Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park and Luna Park), from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Participants will get to flex their artistic muscles and paint otherwise not-so-pretty trash barrels with vibrant landscapes, seascapes and carnival-themed art as a way to spruce up the historic Coney Island boards in time for the summer beach season. Make sure to wear your painting clothes, and arrive by 10:00 a.m. to register.

The event is hosted by the city and City Councilman Domenic Recchia.

You can check out photos of past “Boardwalk Barrels of Fun” by going here.

To learn more, call (718) 965-8917.

Attendees during last year's free skating at Abe Stark Rink. Source: drecchia.com

Our sister site, Bensonhurst Bean, has a piece up about free ice skating tomorrow, December 27 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Abe Stark Rink, 1902 West 19th Street in Coney Island.

It’s a perfect way to spend the day with the kids and will be plenty fun for the grown-ups too, since former New York Ranger Nick Fotiu will also be hitting the ice to hand out prizes, sign autographs, and offer his assistance to first-time skaters.

Go check it out!