Hearing Held Over Plans For Coney Island Boardwalk
To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.
Then come back here and refresh the page.
Residents and advocates headed to Kings County Supreme Court Thursday for their first hearing with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation over the upcoming Coney Island boardwalk renovations.
Coney Island advocacy groups and locals sued the department in July over plans to replace a 50,000 square foot stretch of the famous wood boardwalk with concrete and plastic.
Advocates said the department went forward with the plan without environmental review.
"The making of concrete is the second highest source of mercury in our waters, second only to coal-fire power plants, so concrete was not a sustainable choice for the city," said J.K. Canepa, an advocate for the boardwalk.
"What we're asking for is a safe boardwalk and that's why we're here today,” said Robert Burstein, an advocate for Coney-Brighton Boardwalk Alliance. “We ask that the city do the required environmental review because we know that there are effects that they're not taking into account because we're the ones who will be subject to those negative effects if their plan goes forward."
The city's law office said the Parks Department is in full compliance and took community concerns into account.
After hearing both arguments, a judge said he'll make a decision within the next two months.