Coney Island’s fabled boardwalk is no longer in danger of becoming a sidewalk—just part of it.
Following public outcry, city officials have dropped plans to replace five blocks of the 2.5-mile wooden pathway with cement.
Instead, Community Board 13’s Parks Committee endorsed a $10 million plan unveiled by the Parks Department last night to install a small concrete pathway through the center of this five-block stretch — with synthetic wood taking up the rest of the 51-foot-wide space. The five-block area is currently covered in tropical hardwood planks like most of the rest of the boardwalk.
The 12-foot-wide cement path for emergency vehicles would take up 20 percent on this boardwalk section being studied near Coney Island Avenue in Brighton Beach. It’s a big drop-off from earlier plans in which the cement made up anywhere from one-third to all of the test area.
“I think it’s a great compromise,” said CB 13 member Gene Ritter.
However, other members were not as impressed, saying the entire boardwalk should remain wood — and not be used for vehicles.
As more funding becomes available, officials hope to replace the rest of the boardwalk the same way—except the historic Coney Island amusement district, which would remain all wood.
During the meeting, Parks Department officials unveiled they have been unable to get approval from the state Department of Conservation to run a designated bike lane through the boardwalk. Currently, bikers are allowed to use the boardwalk — which runs from Brighton Beach through Coney Island to Sea Gate — during designated hours only.


