Single Operator Suggested for Coney Island, But Character Loss is Feared

Theme park experts suggest contracting a single operator to manage Coney Island, but there's some push back from city officials who fear a loss of diversity and character.

1 minute read

May 19, 2009, 5:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg


"Mayor Bloomberg's hand-picked panel of amusement industry experts is urging the city to find a single operator to run a proposed new theme park for Coney Island, a controversial suggestion that would radically change the nature of the People's Playground, once the domain of a multitude of independent carnies and ride owners.

'The time is now to identify and select a single industry operator/developer to oversee the development,' the 'Coney Island Amusement Advisory Panel' said a statement issued yesterday. The 'blue ribbon' commission includes executives from Six Flags, Atlantic City's Steel Pier, and amusement parks in Wildwood, N.J.

Even though the suggestion for a single, Disney-like operator came from Bloomberg's own committee, city officials did not fully embrace the idea."

Monday, May 18, 2009 in Brooklyn Paper

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