Streets By Air Episode 05 - Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY

Nestled away from Manhattan, beneath Gravesend and in between Brighton Beach and Sea Gate, lies Coney Island, and the magnificence of it's attractions which still stand today. New Yorkers, and the world beyond, know Coney for it's beaches and historical amusement parks, featuring classic rides like the Cyclone, Thunderbolt, and Wonder Wheel. Along with it's lively boardwalk, filled with some of the most unique people and family-fun activities you will find in Brooklyn. During the late 1800s, amusement parks began growing all over the country, and Coney Island quickly became the largest and most popular. The neighborhood grew, and by the first decade of the 1900s, Coney Island was seen as "a top getaway", and "a symbol of Americans' increasing pride". This momentum continued through WWII, but afterwards became a relic, after years of neglect and deconstruction. The area soon became a focus of development and urban planning. The beach and attractions slowly began losing visitors to beaches on Long Island. Developers moved in to build middle income housing and more residential buildings, after demolishing old parks and lots. Attempts were made to bring back the famed boardwalk and amusement parks, but most didn't succeed. Crime, poverty, and lack of hope for the area to re-develop played a big part in it's hiatus. The 1970s and 80s brought a lot more drugs and violence into the neighborhood. Today, poverty and crime still do persist in CI, something the neighborhood has been working hard to combat. Throughout the 2000s, the projects pushed forward and eventually Luna Park was reconstructed, the New York Aquarium was expanded, and many more attractions were brought back to kickstart a new era for the Brooklyn neighborhood. Today, you can still eat at the original Nathan's Hot Dogs, catch a Brooklyn Cyclone's game, watch live performances at the Amphitheater, ride the Wonder Wheel at Luna Park, or just walk the boardwalk into the evening. Summertime in the city can mean a rush of residents flocking to the sands of Coney Island for a soak in the water or sun. Music, family, food, swimming, and good old fashioned leisure still exist here.