Wood Or Concrete? Battle Rages On The Famed Coney Island Boardwalk

If you go to Coney Island for a famous hot dog, you have to eat it while strolling the iconic boardwalk, right? Now a boardwalk battle is brewing, leaving some residents steamed, reports CBS 2’s Mark Morgan.

Wood or concrete? The debate rages on.

“You know, when people say ‘Coney Island boardwalk’, you expect to see a boardwalk, right? You don’t expect to see concrete,” said Michael Greco of Bath Beach.

The New York City Parks Department is considering repairing parts of the 88-year-old boardwalk with recycled plastic that resembles wood or concrete. For many residents like Todd Dobrin, the nostalgic feel of the natural wood must remain.

“We made it clear to the Parks Department that we don’t want concrete,” Dobrin said.

Morgan spoke with Coney Island Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny, who said all options are being considered.

“The best possible solution would be combination of wood, where we can have wood, some plastic wood maybe, and some part in concrete,” Brook-Krasny said.

Part of the wooden boardwalk has already been replaced by concrete, and there is a graphic difference right here between the two. Dobrin said he is afraid that eventually all of it will be covered in concrete.

“We’ve given them quite a few different proposals, and they’ve been listening, but not enough to stop their concrete takeover,” Dobrin said.

But some resident would welcome the hard stuff.

“My sister usually gets splinters if she walks barefoot here, so it’s better on the concrete. It’s better to ride on the concrete on the bike or on the scooter or anything,” said Anna Allakhverdyan of Brighton Beach.

Dobrin can only hope that the emotional pull of days gone by will effect the Parks Department’s decision, and the historic boardwalk will retain some of its yesteryear magic.

The Parks Department released a statement saying it hopes to have a more definitive plan at the end of the summer.

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