Coney Island: New York's Playground, Robert Moses

"The notion that Coney Island generally is a prosperous place which only needs to be left alone by the city government to be prosperous and happy is eighteen carat bunk.

Some day the city will have to do something drastic and on a large scale to create the conditions under which private capital will do its part toward rebuilding Coney Island.

The future will take care of this."

~ Parks Commissioner Robert Moses, August 21, 1939

Robert Moses was New York City Parks Commissioner from 1934 to 1960. He was responsible for the creation of Jones Beach State Park, various bridges and parkways, and the 1939 Worlds Fair. He had a vision for Coney Island. This vision included expanding the beach area, building a new boardwalk, and increasing housing. It did not include preserving the amusement parks.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• coney island
• new york
• amusement parks
• carrie heitman
• michael chadwick
• robert berliner
• ethel malley
• documentary
• history
• robert moses

[jenn111s]

i like this man. like all what he did in ny.like his ideas and his personality.

[ethelmalley]

@jenn111s he was certainly right about Coney Island. The city is doing something drastic and on a large scale to improve its economic and cultural standing. Whatever one thinks about him, in the 20th century Robert Moses probably did more than any other single person to physically re-shape the city as we know it. Thanks much for watching!

[booklearn]

But he doesn't do so well with his former plans for Washington Square Park.

[jimamia77]

Coney shall receive it's rebirth through nostalgia! It, like much of NYC will be likely overpriced and commercialized! Coney owes its new life to the new trend of hip urban life.  All that's historic, old, and industrial has become the "In" thing. The young newcommers are tired of Six Flags and suburban prefabrication. Unsexy urban grittiness is now in vogue. Prepare to pay handsomely for this lifestyle in New York Metro! The 1980's was real bohemian NYC! It's all fake now!