A thick layer of sand still covers much of the boardwalk at Coney Island, but it is what lies beneath that was sparking the debate nearly five weeks after Superstorm Sandy.
As 1010 WINS’ Eileen Lehpamer reported, the question is whether the boardwalks should be rebuilt as concrete or wood.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg was quoted in a Rockaway newspaper as saying there will be no more wooden boardwalks in the Rockaways or anywhere else.
But Nina, out for a walk in Coney Island, said that sentiment is ridiculous – you cannot have concrete and call it a “boardwalk.”
“It’s like a sidewalk,” she said. “It’s not a boardwalk.”
But Roman, out for his morning jog, said good riddance to the wood. He said it is slippery and is just an excuse for people to sue the city.
“I fell every day because nails come out,” he said.
The Coney Island boardwalk – formally known as the Riegelmann Boardwalk – was constructed in 1923.
Once a site for numerous legendary – if seedy – amusement parks – the boardwalk remains the site of the Cyclone roller coaster and the Wonder Wheel, among other rides. It also hosts an assortment of concession stands and the New York Aquarium.
A restoration project that began in 2010 called for replacing a five-block section with concrete. In July, more than four months before Sandy struck, some Boardwalk advocates filed a lawsuit to stop the replacement.
Read more at: 1010 WINS NY
{Matzav.com Newscenter}
Boardwalks are such a nice item. Who would cement one in? I think that is like turning the world closer to another Beiruit or another Gaza Strip. Keep it classy!
wood is a board walk! NOT CONCRETE! what is this world coming to… how often do we get a hurricane…just build it stronger! you know what, I think they should make it out of pumpernickel before concrete! what do the fellow citizens think?
Do you even know how much the city spends on maintenance of the boardwalks, never mind the actual cost of replacement? A concrete boardwalk does not need to look grey and have squares every 5 feet like a sidewalk. It could be colored, textured and made to look like a board walk, while being maintenance free for 20-30 years. Its a great idea.