Coney Island Supporters!!!! March 28 is the opening day of Coney Island's 2010 Season!!

Dear Coney Island supporter,

This Sunday, March 28 is the opening day of Coney Island's 2010 Season!
We hope you'll be on hand to participate in the day's festivities - from the Open House at the Coney Island History Project from 12 - 3PM to the season's first rides of the Cyclone.
*Several Save Coney Island volunteers will be enjoying a post-ride beverage at Ruby's - so stop by at 4PM!

And there's more to come. We're eagerly awaiting the Memorial Day opening of the new Zamperla amusement park "Luna Park" on the former site of Astroland. The Coney Island USA Sideshows by the Seashores will be back, freakier than ever; Lola's Dreamland Roller Rink will return to the wonderful Child's building; the Coney Island History Project will unveil new exhibit items, the Ringling Brothers Circus will re-pitch its big top, and that's just the start of it... Let's not forget the big ticket events: the Mermaid Parade, Siren Festival, and Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, all of which will be coming back this summer.

This season is guaranteed to be much more successful than last year. However, several of the entrenched problems that have long undermined the amusement area persist - from poor transportation and inadequate bathrooms to vacant lots and underutilized spaces. All these issues could be addressed and fixed by this summer and certainly by the 2011 season.

On Tuesday, the NYC-based think tank Center for an Urban Future published a commentary by several Save Coney Island volunteers entitled "Completing Coney's Comeback: Ten Suggestions for Making this Summer a Success". The commentary came directly out of the Coney Island town hall meeting we held back in January and incorporates many of the suggestions made by participants. You can read it here. We're hoping City Hall and key stakeholders, such as property owners, will build on the positive momentum generated by the arrival of Zamperla USA and really pull out the stops to make this Coney Island summer one to remember. In the coming weeks, we'll be announcing a few of our own initiatives to help spur these efforts.

We hope to see you on Sunday for the start of a spectacular season!

- Save Coney Island


P.S. Please forward this email on to someone you know who loves Coney Island.

Photo of Surf East by Charles Denson
www.saveconeyisland.net

Save Coney Island
237 Flatbush Avenue #248
Brooklyn, New York 11217