A sweeping, multi-year effort to remake one of Brooklyn's most iconic waterfront landmarks is getting underway, but local leaders say the people who use it should not have to wait years for it to be made safe. A one billion dollar project is beginning to revitalize the historic boardwalk that connects Coney Island and Brighton Beach, a promenade woven into the fabric of the neighborhoods it serves.
Even as that long-term work gets going, elected officials are warning that parts of the boardwalk are dangerous right now. State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton said too many sections of the boardwalk are in what she described as unacceptable conditions, and that residents and visitors should not have to navigate hazards to enjoy the seafront.
The senator pointed to a series of specific problems. She cited loose boards, uneven planks, exposed screws and other trouble spots along the boardwalk, saying they were causing people to trip or even fall as they walked a route that draws crowds throughout the summer.
Scarcella-Spanton framed the danger in human terms, urging officials to picture those most at risk. Imagine the danger it poses to a child running barefoot, a senior using a walker, or anyone simply going out for a walk, she said, arguing that the hazards fall hardest on the most vulnerable people who use the boardwalk.
She said the neighborhood could not afford to wait for the full revitalization to be finished. We don't have the luxury of waiting until 2032 to make things safer for the people who live here and the people who visit here, she said, calling for immediate, targeted repairs and increased inspections before anyone else gets hurt.
The city's Parks Department pushed back on the suggestion that the boardwalk is being neglected. It said it already makes safety repairs on the boardwalk five days a week from April through November, and noted that the promenade serves nearly three million people, underscoring both its popularity and the challenge of keeping such a heavily used structure in good repair.