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Coney Island is located in the southernmost part of Brooklyn, one of New York City's five boroughs. It has been a resort area since the 1860s and features a beach and boardwalk with amusement rides and games. It is also an integral part of American Culture as it has been featured in countless films and written about in books. New York City would not be New York City without Coney Island, a place to get away from it all.
Between 1880 until World War II, Coney Island was the largest amusement park in the world, but saw a decline after World War II. At that time, many New Yorkers, traveled to other beaches that were less crowded as more people began to own automobiles.
In the 1950s, Coney Island experienced some problems due to teenaged gangs who struck a blow to the various amusement parks throughout the resort as well as a series of fires that damaged the economy. By 1964, Coney Island was in serious need of rehabilitation when one its most popular amusement parks, Steeplechase Park, closed.
During the 1970s, efforts were made by various developers to restore the park. As developers moved and family-owned establishments dwindled, the resort began to grow. Today, Coney Island features several amusement parks, a large beach and plenty of nearby accommodations for visitors.
Today, after 1.5 billion dollars in renovations, Coney Island stands proud as a popular resort area in New York City. It is also a national historic landmark. It features some of the longest running amusement rides in the world.
The Wonder Wheel, a 150 tall ferris wheel, still operates today in Coney Island just as it did when it opened in 1920. The ferris wheel has cars that are both stationary and those that sway. Bumper car rides, skeeball games and haunted house rides are still in existence and still popular in Coney Island. Long gone are the "shell games" run by nefarious characters and other con games. Today, Coney Island is once again a popular, family resort as it still undergoes expansion and renovation.
Many New York City businesses got their start in Coney Island. Among these is Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs, which has been holding an annual "hot dog eating contest" every 4th of July for 80 years. The hot dog eating contest made Nathan's Famous Hotdogs a household name in New York City, where there are several Nathan's restaurants.
Each year, America's Polar Bear Club dives into the frozen waters off the coast of Coney Island Beach. The Polar Bear Club has been practicing this ice swimming for years in Coney Island.
Coney Island is the home to the Brooklyn Cyclones, a minor league baseball team with a large following. For this reason alone, many fans of the Cyclones visit Coney Island in the summer. The Cyclones play an important role in attracting people to Coney Island every year, where they play at KeySpan park, which is just off the boardwalk on Coney Island.
Although it is no longer the largest amusement park in the world, most native New Yorkers have fond memories of visiting Coney Island as children. Coney Island is not just an amusement park, but an important part of the history of New York City.
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