Coney Island today is bustling with life. More than 50,000 residents of all nationalities call the neighborhood home. New and affordable housing is sprouting up to replace abandoned buildings. Flourishing shopping areas featuring local merchants and the best national chains are appearing where once there were overgrown vacant lots.

More than 50,000 residents of all nationalities call Coney Island home.

From its community groups to the citywide events it hosts, from its homegrown sports superstars to its homegrown redevelopment efforts, this close-knit community is teeming with life.

What truly separates Coney Island from virtually any other recreation destination in the world is that it is first and foremost a vibrant urban neighborhood. Coney Island is more than a resort town — it's a dynamic urban neighborhood right in the heart of Brooklyn.

DYNAMIC, THRIVING NEIGHBORHOOD

Locals and visitors alike embrace Coney Island's uniqueness the minute they step off the train and into the reopened Stillwell Avenue Terminal, where a 370-foot glass wall features artist Robert Wilson's mural of iconic local imagery.

Neighborhood pride is surging, with both existing active community groups and new organizations – including the new community center and YMCA - bringing together people of all ages. Its neighborhood schools, including Surfside Elementary, Mark Twain Intermediate School for the Gifted and Talented, Lincoln High School and others, all celebrate the next generation of Coney Islanders and New Yorkers.

From Neptune to Surf Avenue, 1st to 37th, Coney Island energy is palpable across the neighborhood.

For sports enthusiasts, Coney Island attracts handball legends and volleyball players who meet there for citywide tournaments. Kids in the neighborhood flock to Kaiser Park to learn many sports, including tennis, track and field, golf and basketball - which holds a special place in the hearts of locals.

Local basketball legend Stephon Marbury celebrates Coney Island with annual Thanksgiving turkey giveaways and basketball tournaments. He and his cousin Sebastian Telfair, along with rising star Lance Stephenson, reflect the vitality of Coney Island itself.

CONEY ISLAND REVITALIZED

Coney Island is on its way to its biggest transformation since the turn of the 20th century. Coasters and other thrill rides are planned to usher in a new era of cutting-edge amusements. Shopping centers, movie theaters and even an ice skating rink are all planned for visitors and locals alike to enjoy. And enjoy Coney Island they have – more than 15 million people visited in 2007 alone.

In addition to shopping and entertainment, Coney Island’s network of parkland if also a resource to residents and visitors. More lands are being converted to parks and new bike and walking paths are in the works. And the Atlantic Ocean beckons bathers in both summer and winter — Coney Island's Polar Bear Club was the first of its kind in the nation, with revelers submerging themselves in freezing waters.

Whatever your desire, Coney Island is here to satisfy it.

LEARN MORE

To learn more about what’s in store for Coney Island, explore the Strategic Plan and some current projects & initiatives underway.